File photo of Madan Mitra who joined rebel TMC faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee
NEW DELHI: Former Mamata Banerjee loyalist Madan Mitra, who left her faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to join the rebel camp led by Ritabrata Banerjee, on Friday dismissed allegations that his decision was linked to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) action against his wife and two sons.His remarks came two days after he joined the rebel camp. A day before his defection, the ED served notices on his wife and sons in connection with the alleged school jobs scam.Speaking to ANI about his exit from the Mamata Banerjee faction, Mitra maintained that he was under “no pressure” from the central agency.”The ED didn’t scare us. They didn’t call or threaten us… Why mix politics with the ED? My decision was purely based on the political landscape,” he said.On June 13, the ED carried out raids at seven premises linked to the Kamarhati MLA in connection with a separate case.Mitra expressed disappointment with the functioning of the Mamata Banerjee group, saying its current strategy was “inadequate” to take on the ruling BJP in West Bengal.”I felt that to defeat the BJP, we needed to put in more effort than the way the Trinamool was operating from Kalighat. I wanted to support this new, assertive Trinamool… She chased me away. So I left too,” he said, in an apparent reference to TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee.He also praised the political strength of chief minister Suvendu Adhikari despite being on the opposite side of the political divide.”There is no doubt that considering Suvendu Adhikari’s strength and vigor at his age, it would be very difficult to find a leader across the country capable of taking him on,” he added.After joining the Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel faction, Mitra had blamed her nephew and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee for his exit.”I resigned because I was no longer able to work effectively within Mamata Banerjee’s TMC. I have stepped down from all the committees I was part of. More and more of Mamata Banerjee’s long-time associates are leaving the party because, in my view, the leadership is focused on promoting Abhishek Banerjee rather than strengthening the organisation. TMC is not one person’s party,” he said.”I raised these concerns with Mamata Banerjee on several occasions, but they were not addressed. In my view, Abhishek Banerjee wants decisions to be made solely on his terms and does not allow others to play a meaningful role. As a result, I believe the party’s position is weakening,” he added.
