Kolkata: Trinamool Congress turned 23 today. And brought with it some more embarrassment for the party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
One of Mamata's lieutenants, Suvendu Adhikari, had already switched over to the BJP on December 19, last year. Today, his brother and former chairperson of Kanthi Municipality, Soumendu Adhikari, joined the saffron brigade. Sources in the BJP say, two other members of the Adhikari family, Suvendu's another brother Dibyendu and father Sisir, could also follow suit.
Also Read: Suvendu's younger brother, 14 TMC councillors join BJP
Amid the saffron slide witnessed among the Trinamool Congress rank and file since December 2020, Mamata Banerjee took to Twitter and wrote, “As Trinamool turns 23 today, I look back at the journey we began on January 1st, 1998. Our years have been of immense struggle, but throughout this time we have continued to achieve our objective of being committed to the cause of only the people. On TMC Foundation Day, I extend my sincere gratitude to our Maa-Mati-Manush and all our workers who continue to fight with us in making Bengal better and stronger each day. The Trinamool family will carry on with this resolve for times to come!”
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As Trinamool turns 23 today, I look back at the journey we began on January 1st, 1998.
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 1, 2021 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
Our years have been of immense struggle, but throughout this time we have continued to achieve our objective of being committed to the cause of only the people. (1/2)
">As Trinamool turns 23 today, I look back at the journey we began on January 1st, 1998.
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 1, 2021
Our years have been of immense struggle, but throughout this time we have continued to achieve our objective of being committed to the cause of only the people. (1/2)As Trinamool turns 23 today, I look back at the journey we began on January 1st, 1998.
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 1, 2021
Our years have been of immense struggle, but throughout this time we have continued to achieve our objective of being committed to the cause of only the people. (1/2)
The question, which keeps returning to Mamata on this foundation of the party, which she had formed and literally spirited to the hustings of the state is, how many party leaders will remain with her and the extent of damage they will cause her before the polls?
Also Read: Ashamed of being part of TMC for 21 years: Suvendu
Political watchers say that Mamata has seen bad days. From being a lone member in the Lok Sabha to bagging 34 out 42 Lok Sabha seats of West Bengal, she has seen it all. But, BJP has turned many tides in the past one year. The party, from having not much influence in the state, now has 18 Lok Sabha seats in their kitty. From being a fringe element in the electoral mathematics of Bengal, they have successfully ousted the Left Front and Congress from being the main opposition parties and have cemented their position as the prime challenger to Mamata Banerjee.
The only thing which still holds back the BJP in Bengal is a credible face to take on Mamata Banerjee. Though former BJP national president and Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the party will not need anyone from outside to project as a chief ministerial candidate and the person will be from the state, yet the party doesn't seem to have someone immediately in their mind. Someone, who can be projected opposite Mamata Banerjee. The same Mamata Banerjee, who had seen her party's tally plummeting to 30 seats in the 2006 Assembly elections and then rising up to 211 seats in the 2016 polls. A person who has the mass appeal to take on Mamata Banerjee, the giant slayer who decimated the apparently impregnable red fort in West Bengal, drawing the curtains down on the Left Front's 34-year rule.
Also Read: More opposition leaders are willing to join BJP: Baijayant Panda
On a day when Trinamool Congress tweeted that, “In the past 23 years our TMC family fought many battles whereby more and more people bestowed their faith in @MamataOfficial as the true upholder of Bengal's culture, pride & values! As we step into another year, we promise to always protect & serve the people of Bengal,” Suvendu Adhikari chose the dais of Nandigram to say, “We (BJP) will win this battle. A new government will be formed, which will move forward with Narendra Modi's ideals and promises, to make the state Sonar Bangla.”
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In 23 years, our TMC family fought many battles whereby more & more people bestowed their faith in @MamataOfficial as the true upholder of Bengal’s culture, pride & values!
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) January 1, 2021 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
As we step into another year, we promise to always protect & serve the people of Bengal.#TMCFoundationDay
">In 23 years, our TMC family fought many battles whereby more & more people bestowed their faith in @MamataOfficial as the true upholder of Bengal’s culture, pride & values!
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) January 1, 2021
As we step into another year, we promise to always protect & serve the people of Bengal.#TMCFoundationDayIn 23 years, our TMC family fought many battles whereby more & more people bestowed their faith in @MamataOfficial as the true upholder of Bengal’s culture, pride & values!
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) January 1, 2021
As we step into another year, we promise to always protect & serve the people of Bengal.#TMCFoundationDay
In Singur, bitter infighting within the Trinamool again came to the fore with four-time party MLA Rabindranath Bhattacharjee choosing to stay away from the foundation day ceremony and Haripal MLA Becharam Manna taking centre stage.
Singur and Nandigram, which acted as two sides of a coin called Mamata Banerjee, are in rough weather today. Will it be a sweet deal for her when Mamata steps in to celebrate the pre-silver jubilee foundation day celebrations in 2022? Or will it be a sombre one for her? The answer is only a couple of months away.
Also Read: Not having a truck with BJP, will join party work in 2 days: TMC's Jitendra Tiwari
