Expelled MLAs vs TMC over signature row: Mamata Banerjee's battered party fights on two fronts

In less than 24 hours of the action, one of the two Trinamool Congress MLAs who were expelled on Monday, Sandipan Saha, had turned against the party leadership, accusing it of treating any discussion of morality as a crime. He alleged that the party has “forged” the Leader of Opposition of the assembly's nomination. The break is just the latest in a party that's trying to get over its loss at the hands of the BJP.

Also Read: Shishir Sharma Says He Still Struggles to Accept Sushant Singh Rajput Died by Suicide: ‘Bahut Hi Suljha Hua…’

Forged signatures at nub of row (nub in the middle of the row)

The source of Saha's grievance is a case of alleged forged signatures. He states he and others only signed an attendance sheet and not a resolution, so they weren't aware it was being interpreted as an endorsement. The tussle is for a letter that nominated veteran TMC leader Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay for the Leader of Opposition role in the West Bengal assembly that the TMC lost power in last month.

A notice by the state CID on several party leaders for the alleged signature forgery of the MLAs' on that letter is under investigation.

Saha and fellow MLA, Ritabrata Banerjee from Entally and Uluberia Purba seats, respectively, were ousted from the primary membership of the Trinamool Congress (TC) "with immediate effect", according to a communication signed by party vice-president Chandrima Bhattacharya.

The party has stated the two have been "repeatedly" missing meetings organised by the party's authorised leadership and engaged in "anti-party activities".

The expulsions were made following a press conference by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP, who had told reporters that Saha and Banerjee had complained about their signatures being forged.

Saha had the severest words for party's national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee who signed the list of MLAs. It was a "huge blunder" to have submitted the signatures of the people who were not in attendance, he said, adding that Abhishek was responsible for the mistakes.

The CID had issued Abhishek a summons to appear in the probe on Saturday and he failed to appear.

Also Read: Iran Claims It Shot Down US MQ-1 Drone as Wait for Final Peace Deal Continues

The Mamata is in for a two-front war

The expulsion of the MLAs puts the TMC at its lowest ebb in recent times. The party lost the assembly election on May 4, bringing its long grip on the state government an end.

It has been engaged in a battle on two fronts since then. The dissension is public in the party. Only 19 of the 80 MLAs of the TMC attended a party meeting at Mamata Banerjee's Kalighat residence and the gathering had to be cancelled on Sunday. Since the defeat, over 100 councillors from all over the state have stepped down, and some high-profile speakers have voiced their complaints. Saha and Banerjee are the two who have been expelled.

The pressure is also building up on the exterior. On May 30, Abhishek Banerjee was beaten up at Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas when he visited the family of a party worker who died during the post-poll violence, and rushed him to hospital where he alleged that they wanted to kill him and that the BJP was responsible.

MP Kalyan Banerjee was reportedly attacked a day later in Hooghly

The new state government has also upped the ante against Abhishek on other fronts as demolition notices have been served on properties associated with him and civic bodies under the control of the TMC are now being called for scrutiny, the TMC says.

Many MLAs were not present as they were protesting the attacks on Abhishek and Kalyan Banerjee, said TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh.

Before addressing candidates at the party exits, she had issued a defiant message to those who wished to move on, calling them free to "go" and saying she would rebuild the party.

After they are expelled, they are no longer party members and are free from party discipline.

Also Read: ‘Don’t Put Me on the Spot’: Ajit Agarkar Left Searching for Words Over Questions on BCCI Selection Secrets