After the Trinamool Congress (TMC) faced an electoral defeat after years of victory, party leader Mamata Banerjee urged candidates who contested in the recent
assembly elections to rebuild the organisation. However, she also stressed that those "wishing to leave the party are free to do so". Banerjee, while speaking at a meeting with the Trinamool Congress's contesting candidates at her Kalighat residence on Friday, said that her organisation would rise again. The meeting was attended by the national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee. TMC supremo said that the organisation would rise again despite suffering a crushing defeat in the recently concluded assembly elections, PTI reported. "Those who are leaving for other parties, let them go. I will rebuild the party afresh. To those who are staying, I say rebuild the damaged party offices, paint them, and reopen them. If needed, I, too, will paint them. Trinamool Congress will never bow down. People's mandate has been looted," Banerjee was quoted as saying by party sources, according to a PTI report. The remarks came days after the TMC was reduced from the ruling party to the opposition benches following a dramatic reversal in electoral fortunes.
TMC Loses in Assembly Elections
Mamata Banerjee herself suffered defeat in Bhabanipur, long considered her political bastion. Of the 294 assembly seats in the state, the party won only 80.
The meeting at Kalighat was convened for candidates who had contested the elections on the party's ticket amid reports of internal discontent and speculation over possible defections after the electoral debacle.
The TMC had fielded candidates in 291 seats, leaving three seats in the Darjeeling hills to its ally, the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), led by Anit Thapa. Of these, only 80 candidates emerged victorious, while 211 lost, including several heavyweight leaders and ministers.
Yesterday's meeting echoed Banerjee's remarks made a day after the results were declared. Addressing a press conference on May 5, the party supremo had said she was aware that some leaders might switch camps.
"I know many will leave for other parties. They may have their own compulsions. I have nothing to say about that. Whoever wants to go may go. I do not believe in forcibly holding anyone back," she had said.
The TMC's official X handle later posted photographs of the meeting and praised the contesting candidates for their fight during the election campaign.
"Today, our Hon'ble Chairperson @MamataOfficial and our Hon'ble National General Secretary @abhishekaitc met with our contesting candidates at Kalighat. They fought with unmatched courage despite facing unimaginable atrocities and relentless intimidation.
"The Trinamool Congress stands united as one family. We will never bow before those who loot the people's mandate. Truth will prevail," the party posted on X on Friday.
