Mamata Banerjee Hits Back at Rebels, Warns Suvendu Adhikari: 'Every Action Has a Reaction'
In a Facebook live stream on Saturday, Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee addressed party rebels and issued a warning to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Her remarks came a day after rebel leaders 'captured' the TMC headquarters in Kolkata and hours after senior party leader Chandrima Bhattacharya resigned from all party posts.
Banerjee described the rebels as 'traitors' and said she prioritises workers over leaders. 'I ignore all those who are gone. To me, workers are more important than leaders. They are traitors. I ask such traitors, if you have the guts, go join the BJP,' she said. She also dismissed the rebels' attempts to secure the party symbol, asserting, 'Remember, you contested polls on a symbol that was signed by me. You contested on behalf of a party founded by me.'
On Bhattacharya's resignation, Banerjee stated, 'She told me a few days back she will resign. Before that, her son joined hands with (rebel MLAs). I don't care.' She noted that many rebels had been with the TMC for years and questioned why they did not rebel before the Assembly elections held two months ago.
Banerjee announced she would personally oversee the TMC's West Bengal unit, taking over from Bhattacharya. She also appointed Kunal Ghosh and Madan Mitra as state general secretaries. Regarding the party headquarters, Banerjee said the rent had been paid until October 2027, but rebels locked the building. She declared that her own residence at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street would serve as the new party headquarters.
Addressing what she termed 'state-sponsored terrorism,' Banerjee alleged that party leaders and workers have been targeted in false cases. 'Mahua (Moitra) has been attacked, Abhishek (Banerjee) has been attacked, Kalyan (Banerjee) faced attacks. Our workers were forced to leave their homes,' she said.
Banerjee directed a message to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, reminding him of his past affiliations with the Congress and TMC. 'You are the CM. But you were with the Congress. You were with TMC for 10 or 11 years... Don't indulge in committing atrocities on our workers. One day, it may return to you. Every action has a reaction. Run the government properly,' she said.
She also criticised the BJP government over the Annapurna Yojana (formerly Lakshmir Bhandar), alleging that over 1.5 crore women were wrongfully removed as beneficiaries. With Martyrs Day approaching on July 21, Banerjee called on party workers to commemorate the deaths of protesting Congress workers in 1993.
