Upset over the decision of a Trinamool Congress (TMC) minister joining the BJP, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a party meeting at her residence on Friday cracked the whip on the North 24 Parganas district leadership.
The Trinamool Congress chairperson sought explanation from the party leadership on why Manjul Krishna Thakur, State Minister for Refugee Relief and Rehabilitation and his son Subrata Thakur had joined the BJP.
The defection is crucial as it comes at a time when by polls are scheduled in the Bongaon Lok Sabha constituency of North 24 Parganas district, which fell vacant after the death of Kapil Krishna Thakur, the elder brother of Manjul.
“It needs to be ensured that the BJP loses its deposit in the Bongaon by polls, she told the district leadership,” a Trinamool Congress leader told The Hindu .
Ms Banerjee also told the party leaders present at the meeting that anyone willing to join the BJP must go, but not backstab the party.
The by polls for the Bongoan Lok Sabha seat is scheduled on February 13. The support of Matuas, a religious sub-sect, controlled by the family of late Kapil Krishna Thakur and Manjul, is key to the victory of any party in the constituency. With Manjul joining the BJP, the family is split politically.
Binapani Devi, head of the sect and Manjul’s mother, however has decided to support Mamatabala Devi, wife of the late Kapil Krishna Thakur. On Friday, she told journalists that she has no relations with her younger son.
At the meeting, the Chief Minister asked the party leaders to prepare for the civic polls scheduled in 2015. MPs, MLAs and even councillors from the civic bodies where polls are scheduled were present at the meeting
Ms Banerjee also accused the BJP of indulging in vendetta politics by utilising Central agencies and said thousands of party supporters will hit the streets if anything happens to party general secretary Mukul Roy. She was hinting at the CBI summon to Mr Roy in connection with the Saradha scam.
The party also announced the Satyajit Biswas as the candidate for by polls in the Krishnaganj Assembly seat in Nadia district scheduled on February 13.
