Will fight or die: Mamata holds massive dharna, only 5 MLAs, 3 MPs attend
Will fight or die: Mamata holds massive dharna, only 5 MLAs, 3 MPs attend
M.U.H
02/06/202626
Returning to her 'street fighter' avatar in her first major protest since losing the Bengal elections, Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee vowed to "fight or die" as she accused the BJP of attacks on party leaders, including her nephew Abhishek, and intimidation. Staging a dharna at central Kolkata, which was attended by only five of the party's 80 MLAs, Mamata accused the BJP of attempting to break the Trinamool after "looting votes" in the polls.
"Ladenge ya marenge (I will fight or die). I will not die until I remove all of you from power," Mamata, 71, roared at the dharna site, taking potshots at the BJP. While the gritty Mamata turned up at the protest, only five MLAs and three MPs were there to support her.
ONLY 5 MLAs ATTEND PROTEST
The MLAs present at the protest site in central Kolkata's Esplanade were Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, Nanya Bandopadhyay, Madan Mitra, Ashok Deb and Asima Patra. Dola Sen, Kalyan Banerjee and Dereck O'Brien were the MPs seen beside Mamata.
It told a story in itself, signalling how Mamata is struggling to keep her flock together after the crushing defeat to the BJP. Marred by internal dissent, the Trinamool seems to be on the verge of a split.
On Monday, expelled MLAs Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha met several TMC legislators at the MLA hostel in Kolkata.
The development came amid allegations that signatures of several TMC MLAs were forged in a letter endorsing Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of the Opposition. A day before, 60 of the 80 TMC MLAs skipped a meeting chaired by Mamata at her residence.
Moreover, not many TMC leaders came out in public to condemn the attack on MP Abhishek Banerjee, who was targeted with stones and eggs during his visit to Sonarpur to meet victims of post-poll violence.
Already, over 100 councillors have ditched the party. Several MPs have also quit key party posts while expressing dissatisfaction with the TMC leadership, especially Abhishek. Among the prominent voices has been TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar.
The back-to-back developments signal a looming crisis for the Trinamool.
'ATTEMPTING TO BREAK TMC'
On Tuesday, Mamata raised the attack on Abhishek and MP Kalyan Banerjee, who was targeted by a mob in Hooghly. "Had the stone hit Abhishek's head that day, he could have been dead," Mamata said.
"This misrule, this atrocity, the way they have looted the vote, and now our MLAs and councillors are being threatened by the police. They are now attempting to break TMC," she further said.
The Trinamool chief also accused the Suvendu Adhikari government of throwing a spanner in party activities.
"We have not been allowed to fix a mic. We were not allowed to erect a stage. TMC is not being allowed to do our political activity," Mamata said.
Initially, the TMC planned to hold the protest at Rani Rashmoni Avenue. However, the Kolkata Police denied permission at the key intersection. Mamata eventually shifted the protest venue to Esplanade's Y-channel.
The firebrand TMC chief did not spare her once-trusted aide Suvendu Adhikari, alleging that the alleged eviction of hawkers and "bulldozer raj" would only push the state into darkness.
"Modi ji has left Bengal in the hands of anti-socials, bulldozer-happy politicians, pushing the state into darkness. The homes of poor people in Bengal have been demolished," she further said.
Mamata ended her speech with a stern warning, vowing that the agitation would not be easily quieted. "The dharna will continue," she said. Bengal OG 'street fighter' has returned. Will she be able to galvanise the required support from her party MLAs and MPs?
