West Bengal Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee has claimed after the resignation of Rajya Sabha MP Rukmini Malik that more leaders may leave the party due to ‘dictatorship’ in TMC. He said that instead of dialogue, monologue is going on in the party.
Kolkata (West Bengal) [भारत]July 16 (ANI): West Bengal Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee on Thursday claimed that after the resignation of Rajya Sabha MP Rukmini Koel Mallick, more leaders may resign from the Trinamool Congress (TMC). He alleged that “dictatorship, fascism and totalitarianism” within the party had weakened internal dialogue.
Reacting to Mallik’s resignation, Banerjee told ANI, “The kind of dictatorship, fascism and totalitarianism that was established was harmful for democracy.”
There will be more resignations in TMC: Ritabrata Banerjee
Referring to earlier resignations from the party, he said, “Earlier, three of my former colleagues – Buluda, Sukhendu Shekhar Ray, my friend Sushmita and my younger brother Prakash had resigned. They joined the BJP; it is their political choice. Today Koyal Mallik also resigned.”
Banerjee claimed that there could be more resignations, alleging that the party works through “monologue” rather than dialogue. He said, “I think many more people will follow because fascism and dictatorship believe in monologue, whereas dialogue is essential for democracy…Now, dialogue is becoming powerful against it, and that’s the lesson of history – dialogue moves against monologue. What’s happening is a logical consequence, and I think many others will join this rebellion.”
According to sources, Koel Mallik met Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan during the day and submitted his resignation. Earlier, three prominent former MPs in the Upper House, Sukhendu Shekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik, had switched sides and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). When the seats became vacant, he also got Rajya Sabha by-election tickets from BJP.
On Wednesday, Madan Mitra, a close aide of former chief minister Mamata Banerjee, joined the rebel faction led by Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee.
Rebels should leave the party before July 21: Mamata Banerjee
Meanwhile, the former chief minister has asked rebels who wish to leave TMC to do so before the Martyrs’ Day rally on July 21. In a video posted on Twitter, Mamata Banerjee said that actress-turned-politician Rukmini Mallik, alias Koel Mallik, had informed the party leadership before resigning from the Rajya Sabha just a few months into her tenure.
“I saw an MP. I respect him. He had informed earlier through email. Today he met a BJP leader. Those who are under pressure, please take whatever decision you want to take before July 21, Martyrs’ Day, and go wherever you want. Our Constitution gives us the right to do what we want,” the TMC supremo said. He further said, “Those who are leaving us are also in touch with us.”
Besides, Mamata urged the administration to remain “neutral” as the TMC prepares to hold a rally on ‘Martyrs’ Day’ in memory of 13 Youth Congress workers killed in police firing during a protest under the Left Front rule in 1993. She is expected to raise the issue of alleged killing of TMC workers in the post-poll violence in the state.
“Our workers have been killed. They cannot protest. We will hold the July 21 event peacefully as directed by the court. I would ask the administration to remain neutral. Remember, if there are tremors in Delhi, Bengal will also be affected,” she said.
Amid the setbacks, Mamata has said that if needed, she can “relaunch” the party, as she did in 2006. (ANI)
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