Is Shashi Panja also leaving Mamata Banerjee? Speculations rife after Kakoli Dastidar’s son’s post
A post by Kakoli Dastidar’s son has fueled rumours that West Bengal minister Shashi Panja may leave Mamata Banerjee's TMC to join the NCPI rebel faction
Speculation is rife that West Bengal minister Shashi Panja may leave Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) after meeting with rebel MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar. The meeting, held at Dastidar's fertility clinic, has intensified rumors of another defection from the TMC. Panja's absence from public view since her election loss has contributed to the buzz, with Dastidar's son's deleted social media post further fueling the narrative of Panja's impending departure. This event occurs as other members of Mamata's political group have joined the NCPI faction, creating significant uncertainty in West Bengal politics.
Speculation is rife that West Bengal minister Shashi Panja may leave Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) after meeting with rebel MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar. The meeting, held at Dastidar's fertility clinic, has intensified rumors of another defection from the TMC. Panja's absence from public view since her election loss has contributed to the buzz, with Dastidar's son's deleted social media post further fueling the narrative of Panja's impending departure. This event occurs as other members of Mamata's political group have joined the NCPI faction, creating significant uncertainty in West Bengal politics.
Speculation is rife that West Bengal minister Shashi Panja may leave Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) after meeting with rebel MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar. The meeting, held at Dastidar's fertility clinic, has intensified rumors of another defection from the TMC. Panja's absence from public view since her election loss has contributed to the buzz, with Dastidar's son's deleted social media post further fueling the narrative of Panja's impending departure. This event occurs as other members of Mamata's political group have joined the NCPI faction, creating significant uncertainty in West Bengal politics.
After the Trinamool Congress split in West Bengal, speculations are rife that yet another minister may leave Mamata Banerjee to join the rebel side.
Three-time Trinamool MLA from Syampukur and former minister Shashi Panja reportedly met NCPI MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar on Saturday, fueling speculations that the former may also defect from the party.
Panja lost to BJP candidate Purnima Chakraborty from Shyampukur constituency by 14,633 votes in this year's assembly elections.
She has not been seen publicly since the election results were announced.
The rumours began on Saturday. Sources say that the two met at the Ghosh Dastidar Institute of Fertility Research.
Panja, a doctor by profession, reportedly visited Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar's fertility clinic, which is located just 800 metres from Mamta Banerjee’s residence.
Dastidar is one of the 20 rebel MPs who defected from the TMC and joined the NCPI. She was recently made the Chief Whip of the party. Like Panja, Dastidar is also a former doctor.
Sources say that the two met at the Ghosh Dastidar Institute of Fertility Research.
The meeting was considered significant in light of recent events. Dastidar was seen sitting in the front row with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an NDA meet earlier this week.
Panja was also seen as part of the quartet of women in Mamata Brigade. Except for Panja, the three others joined the NCPI faction.
A post on social media by Dastidar’s son, Baidyanath Ghosh Dastidar, only added fuel to the speculations on Sunday. He wrote, "Shashi Panja is going to leave Trinamool very soon." The post was deleted within a short time.
The MP’s son, Panja and the TMC are yet to respond to the rumours.