Rebel lawmaker Suvendu Adhikari informed Trinamool Congress (TMC) leadership on Wednesday that he was unable to work for the ruling party, people familiar with the matter said. Adhikari sent a text message to TMC leader Saugata Roy, saying that his problems with TMC were far from over. He responded to calls and texts for comments.
Adhikari’s response came a day after TMC said the lawmaker told top leaders at a meeting that he would not leave the party. Roy called Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the middle of the meeting and handed the phone to Adhikari. “She told him that we should all work together and he agreed,” Roy said Wednesday.
TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee and electoral strategist Prashant kishor were present at the meeting along with Roy and Sudip Bandopadhyay.
TMC leaders told HT last month that Adhikari was specifically unhappy with Banerjee and Kishor’s organizational decisions. TMC attacked Kishor after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 18 of the state’s 42 Lok Sabha seats in 2019.
Adhikari, who was previously appointed TMC’s election observer, had demanded that the leaders of his choice be selected next year from around 65 seats in the assembly. This was unacceptable to the leadership.
Adhikari, who resigned from the state cabinet on Friday, and Abhishek Banerjee even quarreled with each other.
The people quoted above said that Adhikari expressed dissatisfaction that the leadership informed the media about the talks, as it was decided that he would do so at a press conference a few days later.
Adhikari texted Roy about the problems he had had with the party and offered an apology.
“I communicated to you [the media] the truth is that what happened at the meeting last night and what happened in the presence of five people present. If there is any change of opinion on the part of Suvendu, it is he who must decide and communicate with the media, “said Roy. “I won’t say if I spoke to him after the meeting last night. Yes, I got your message. “
When asked if there was room for further discussion, Roy said, “I don’t think that’s going to happen right now if someone has changed their mind.”
On Tuesday, Roy said the talks went extremely well. “Suvendu said that he strongly agrees with the match. I invited Abhishek Banerjee and Adhikari to sit down and talk. Adhikari will make his position public. He had been saying the whole time that he would not leave the TMC. “
Roy and Bandopadhyay have been holding conversations with Adhikari for the past two weeks following Mamata Banerjee’s instructions.
It has been speculated that Adhikari could join the BJP.
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