New Delhi: There are growing rumours about an internal rift brewing within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) after at least 10 MLAs didn’t attend a crucial
meeting convened by party supremo Mamata Banerjee.
Banerjee held the meeting following her party’s humiliating defeat at the hands of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after 15 years in power.
The meeting was convened after Mamata refused to quit from Chief Minister’s post, alleging the mandate in almost 100 seats was “looted” and that the counting was deliberately slowed down to demoralise her party. She also accused functionaries within her party of “sabotage” in the Assembly polls and announced multiple investigations on Wednesday, as per a report by The Times of India.
Speculations became rife about a rift after around nine to 10 newly elected MLAs skipped a crucial strategy meeting. An ABP report said just 70 of the party’s 80 newly elected legislators were present at the meeting, where the party was expected to discuss its future course of action and discuss on the appointment of the next Leader of the Opposition.
What happened at the meeting
The discussions revolved around finalising the party’s stance and strategy in the Assembly and reorganising its leadership structure, including the appointment of the next Leader of the Opposition.
Reports said that at the key meeting, Banerjee slammed the conduct of the Assembly elections, alleging widespread anomalies and reiterating that she would not quit.
Banerjee said, “I won’t resign. Let them dismiss me.” She added that TMC would continue to fight despite the poll jolt. She requested MLAs to stay united and strong, while asking them to wear black clothes on the first day of the Assembly as a mark of protest. Banerjee said it was a “black day” for the state, the day BJP was declared winner.
As per party sources, Banerjee reportedly told MLAs that those who lost were “forcibly defeated” and claimed that the election process was compromised.
“Some of our own people have sabotaged us. We will examine all such allegations,” a TMC senior quoted her as saying, as per TOI report.
How TMC clarified absence of MLAs
Issuing a clarification on absence of around 10 MLAs from the meeting, the TMC said that all absentee legislators had either informed the party beforehand or were specifically instructed not to attend.
Responding to buzz about internal rift in the party, TMC official sources said there was no cause for concern over the absentees, ANI report said.
Party sources reportedly said: “There have been speculative reports in media on few MLAs not turning up for today’s meeting. Please note, all absentee MLAs had informed in advance of their absence or a few of them were asked not to come, especially from North Bengal area.”
