Kolkata, Oct. 9 -- Madhyamgram MLA Rathin Ghosh has asserted that he remains with Mamata Banerjee, dismissing the existence of a separate Ritabrata-led TMC amid the ongoing party split.
His remarks come after Mamata Banerjee reportedly set a 15-day deadline for rebel MPs and MLAs to return to the party's mainstream. Ghosh, whose name featured among the 65 legislators in the rebel camp led by Ritabrata Banerjee, said he would participate in any future movement organised by Mamata Banerjee.
"Who says we are not with Mamata? We are with Mamata," he said, adding that people in his constituency could verify his continued association with the party and his regular contact with residents.
On the dispute over the appointment of the Leader of the Opposition (LoP), Ghosh said the legislators had chosen Ritabrata for the post but questioned what could be done if the Speaker did not recognise the decision. He maintained that there was no separate entity called Ritabrata Trinamool. However, MAITC dismissed Ghosh's statement, alleging that he frequently changes his stand. Beleghata MLA Kunal Ghosh criticised the statement, calling it contradictory and questioning why Rathin had not accompanied Mamata during her recent political programmes. He alleged that the MLA was making the claim to protect his political position and appease workers in his constituency.
Ritabrata Banerjee, meanwhile, said Rathin had not personally discussed the matter
with him.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.