Agartala, Jul 3 (UNI) Crisis deepen in Trinamool Congress of Tripura following announcement of suspension of five MLAs of six of the party in the state by Trinamool General Secretary Partha Chatterjee in Kolkata today alleging them of maintain relation with BJP ahead of Presidential election to be held on July 17.
However, TMC MLAs here denied the allegation and termed the announcement of Mr Chatterjee as ‘unfortunate and undemocratic’. They however, stated that none of the TMC leader spoke to them on the issue and the party did not even seek any clarification from them.
Addressing media here today, three TMC MLAs Sudip Roy Barman, Ashis Saha and D C Hrangkhwal accompanied by several other top leaders of the party alleged that Trinamool leaderships yet to inform them about the party decision of supporting Presidential candidate.
“We have neither been consulted for our view nor asked to cast the vote to any candidate in the President election. Through media only we came to know that Trinamool Congress is supporting the candidate of Congress who is also supported by CPI(M). We are waiting for the confirmation but we are almost decided not to cast vote to the candidate supported or proposed by CPI(M),” stated MLA Roy Barman.
He however, lashed out at Trinamool supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her decision to vote for CPI(M) backed President nominee Meira Kumar and alleged, “Only a year ago she fought against communist in the West Bengal assembly elections and we six MLAs had to leave Congress party for it’s decision to extend support to CPI(M) against Mamata Banerjee and now the same lady join hand with CPI(M), which we cannot accept.”
Mr Roy Barman further stated that initially last year when they left Congress and joined Trinamool there was a serious effort of Mamata Banerjee to fight out CPI(M) from Tripura but gradually it appeared that she has also became soft to CPI(M) and moving to the extent of electoral alliance for President poll.
“We have lunched the party in Tripura without any support from Mamata Banerjee or any of the leaders. Whatever, today Trinamool has in the state only because of our individual effort. Not a single penny was supported us to do the party but even then we did it just to look at her commitment against CPI(M),” Roy Barman pointed out.
The party did not have minimum democracy and respect to fellow colleagues, otherwise, Mamata Banerjee should have called us to seek our view and respect to our sentiment against communist and he underscored adding even today before announcing disassociation with five MLAs here they did not feel to listen to us.
However, the decision came in media only and none of the MLA was informed either verbally or written so far. Since it was aired in television channels, being the responsible public representatives we felt to clarify our stand and the happenings.
“In Presidential election there is no convention of wipe only request to the party MLAs and MPs or left it to their individual choice. In a recent meeting we made up our mind that we shall not cast vote for Meira Kumar, as she is backed by CPI(M). But it was also not announced to vote for NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind. We might be abstained from voting in the election. Without taking our view, how Partha Chatterjee announced our expulsion in Kolkata labelling baseless and unfounded allegation,” said TMC president and MLA Ashis Saha.
He stated that they convened emergency meeting with all the state and district level leaders following the development on July 5 to take the decision for next course of action and added, “Whether we shall join in BJP or to leave with separate entity will be decided after thread bear discussion with the leaders.” UNI
