India
oi-Ashish Rana
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra has strongly defended party chief Mamata Banerjee as the party grapples with an unprecedented rebellion by several MLAs and MPs following its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections. In a recent interview, Moitra addressed criticism surrounding the leadership of Abhishek Banerjee, praised BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari for the manner in which he exited the TMC, and questioned the motives of leaders who have now revolted against the party.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra defended Mamata Banerjee against party rebels, contrasting their actions with Suvendu Adhikari’s principled exit and questioning why they didn’t oppose Abhishek Banerjee’s leadership during past election wins before raising allegations.
Shortly after excerpts from her interview generated widespread discussion, Moitra accused sections of the media of selectively highlighting “juicy bits” to misrepresent her remarks and attract attention.
Mahua Moitra Questions Timing of Rebel Leaders’ Allegations
Speaking to BBC Hindi and Bangla, Mahua Moitra said Suvendu Adhikari’s departure from the TMC differed significantly from the actions of the current rebel faction because he openly acknowledged his political differences before leaving.
“Suvendu Adhikari’s problem was essentially the same. Mamata Banerjee had made Abhishek Banerjee the number two in the party. Suvendu understood that as long as Abhishek Banerjee was there, control of the party was never going to come to him.”
She explained that Adhikari chose to leave after realising his political ambitions would not be fulfilled within the party.
“He [Suvendu Adhikari] felt, ‘It is my right, my entitlement. I am a party man.’ But he also understood that this was not going to happen as long as Abhishek was around. So he decided to join the BJP. He made that position very clear. And there is merit to that; there is something to respect in that approach. He went away and fought his political battle for five years.”
Moitra also questioned why the present rebel MPs and MLAs never publicly objected to Abhishek Banerjee’s leadership while the party was winning elections.
“Let me say this clearly. Every one of those people who are making these allegations today contested elections just a month or a month-and-a-half ago. They all fought on the Trinamool Congress symbol. Abhishek Banerjee was not made the party’s national general secretary today; he held the same position in 2021 as well. The party won the 2021 election under his leadership.”
She further added:
“Suvendu Adhikari, too, worked alongside Abhishek’s leadership before leaving the party and joining the BJP. So all these leaders who are rebelling today, why did they not say then that they disagreed with Abhishek’s style of functioning or that the party had become disconnected from the people? Why did they not refuse to contest on the party symbol and instead join another party? They did not say any of that then. At that time, they wanted tickets, positions and opportunities. That is why I call out their hypocrisy.”
‘If They Disagree, They Are Free To Leave’
Responding to claims made by rebel leaders regarding internal functioning and the role of political consultancy firm I-PAC, Moitra maintained that there was enough room within the TMC to express differing views.
“There was always room within the party to discuss disagreements with Mamata Banerjee or Abhishek Banerjee,” she said, adding, “I myself fought the 2024 election without involving I-PAC. So the problem was never that there was no space for discussion within the party.”
She also made it clear that leaders unhappy with the party’s functioning had every right to leave but should not criticise the leadership after securing electoral victories under the party banner.
“And if someone does not like the way things are being run, they are free to leave. But you cannot win an election using Mamata Banerjee’s and Abhishek Banerjee’s faces and popularity, and then turn around and attack them.”
Mahua Moitra Recalls Her Friendship With Suvendu Adhikari
During the interview, Mahua Moitra spoke at length about her personal association with Suvendu Adhikari before he joined the BJP, describing herself as an emotional politician who values relationships formed over years of political work.
“Maybe in a year’s time, when I am older and more experienced, nothing will surprise me anymore. But right now, some things still do surprise me. I am an emotional person. Rakesh is not such an emotional politician. The old-school politicians used to say that people come and go. But I am still a very emotional politician.”
She continued:
“For me, emotional ties matter. I consider the party a family. I still do. And when you do politics with someone 24/7, personal bonds are formed.”
Recalling her early political journey, Moitra said Adhikari had supported her campaign when very few senior leaders had come forward.
“He was a very good friend of mine and, when we were in the same party, he supported me a great deal. When I first contested from Karimpur, nobody was coming to campaign for me. Hardly anyone attended rallies. One of my first rallies was addressed by Suvendu. I still have all the photographs. It was just Suvendu and me sitting there. I needed flags and campaign material; Suvendu helped me.”
She also shared a personal memory from 2014.
“In 2014, there was a time when I thought I might get a Lok Sabha ticket but did not. I cried the entire night. Suvendu told me, ‘Don’t cry, sister. We are with you.'”
Despite political differences today, Moitra said such memories remain meaningful.
“These are emotional connections. Just because someone leaves does not mean those memories disappear. We may not speak now because we are in different political parties, but personal and emotional relationships are not something you simply forget.”
Saayoni Ghosh’s Exit And The Deepening TMC Crisis
Mahua Moitra described the departure of Jadavpur MP Saayoni Ghosh as the most emotionally difficult among the recent exits from the party.
“And I truly believe that whatever she received from the party, she received because she deserved it. I am not saying she was undeserving. She was capable and deserving, and that is precisely why she was given opportunities.”
She added:
“Look at her journey. She joined the party in February 2021. By March or April, the party gave her a ticket. She fought extremely well in that constituency and lost by only about 4,000 votes. So if she has now chosen to leave, the explanation for that decision should come from her, not from me.”
The comments come at a time when the TMC is facing its biggest organisational challenge in years. Following the party’s defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections, 58 rebel MLAs were recognised as the principal opposition in the Assembly. Soon after, a separate faction of around 20 rebel MPs announced plans to merge with the Tripura-based NCPI and extend support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in Parliament.
The political developments have left Mamata Banerjee with only a handful of loyal MPs, including Mahua Moitra, Kalyan Banerjee and Derek O’Brien, as the party navigates one of the most serious internal crises in its history.
