TMC's Mahua Moitra Criticizes Rebel Legislators Amid Political Turmoil

In light of significant political unrest within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), MP Mahua Moitra launched a fierce critique against the party's dissenting legislators on Thursday. She accused them of betraying voters by aligning with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This statement followed a march by 58 of the 80 newly elected TMC legislators to the office of Assembly Speaker Rathindranath Bose just a day earlier. Led by recently expelled members Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, the rebel faction claims to have surpassed the two-thirds majority required to bypass anti-defection laws, formally declaring Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition (LOP) in their bid to assert control over the TMC legislative party.

Moitra also targeted the Election Commission, accusing it of being a puppet of the BJP and criticized the behavior of central forces during the elections, as well as the alleged removal of voters' names from the electoral rolls. She emphasized that the rebel legislators won their seats solely due to the leadership and name of Mamata Banerjee, receiving anti-BJP votes. Moitra highlighted that TMC secured 41% of the votes based on the party's symbol and Mamata Banerjee's name. Challenging the rebels' claims of independence, she stated that they cannot simply assert their freedom without resigning from their seats and contesting anew, which she mockingly referred to as the "Bijeemool" symbol.

Moitra remarked that the Election Commission acted under BJP's influence, pointing out the behavior of central forces and the removal of voters from the lists. She reiterated that if the public mandate is respected, it is evident that TMC, under Mamata Banerjee's leadership, received 41% of the votes. This indicates that all TMC legislators who won did so because of Mamata Banerjee's name. She asserted that these legislators cannot claim to be free; they must resign and contest elections under the Bijeemool symbol. While welcoming the departure of dissatisfied legislators, Moitra stated that the party's doors are open for anyone wishing to leave, framing the current crisis as an opportunity for the party's "purification." She emphasized that there is no room for fear while contesting elections against the BJP and urged all workers to recognize that the party operates under Mamata Banerjee's leadership. Those wishing to leave are free to do so, and the party must undergo purification.