TMC heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari says 'still part of Trinamool', amid rumours of quitting

Amid rumours over Trinamool loyalist Suvendu Adhikari drifting away from party, Bengal transport minister on Thursday, assured that he was still a part of party and cabinet. Adhikari, addressing an apolitical rally in East Midnapore, said that he had plans of quitting party, unless he is expelled. Adhikari - who holds influence in about 35 assembly constituencies in West Midnapore, Bankura, Purulia, Jhargram and Birbhum districts has been creating rumours for past few months by holding rallies t under Trinamool flag or its supremo - Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's posters, and has skipped cabinet meetings.

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Suvendu Adhikari: 'I'm still here'

“I am still an active primary member of party. I am still a minister and part of cabinet. Neir has chief minister sacked me, r have I quit on my own. I am here as long as higher authorities don’t expel me or I leave,” he said at 67th National Cooperative Week function in East Midnapore. While Suvendu himself is very infulential, his far Sisir Adhikari and younger bror Dibyendu Adhikari are TMC MPs from Tamluk and Kanthi Lok Sabha constituencies respectively. 

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What happened between Adhikari & Trinamool?

Last Tuesday, while addressing a rally to mark 'Nandigram Diwas', Adhikari lashed out saying, "After 13 years, a few people are w coming here as elections are approaching. I want to tell m if y are coming before polls, y will have to come after elections too". rally held to pay respect to martyrs of Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee (BUPC), did t have posters of Banerjee or TMC flags. With six TMC MLAs on-st with Adhikari, he added, "Whatever I will have to say regarding my next course of action, I will say from a political platform. I will say everything but t from this pious st."

West Bengal Transport Minister Suvendu Adhikary skips cabinet meeting

Retorting to Adhikari's veiled threats, TMC MLAs - Firhad Hakim and party MP Dola Sen blamed Adhikari for 'strengning BJP', without mentioning him. Meanwhile, Prashant Kishor, who has been roped by Mamata Banerjee for her re-elction bid, visited Adhikari's East Midnapore residence and spoke to his far, TMC MP Sisir Adhikari. He wanted to meet Suvendu Adhikari but could t meet him as he was t at house n. Trinamool has also delegated two senior MPs to be in regular touch with Adhikari and pacify his demands.

BJP and Congress welcome Adhikari

Awaiting Adhikari's future political course, Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh said party is t in touch with him. "It is an internal matter of TMC. But one can be indeed happy in a party like TMC. We hope that Adhikari would clear his stand soon," Ghosh said.

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On or hand, West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said Congress will welcome Adhikari with "open arms". "We will be pleased if a leader of stature of Suvendu Adhikari joins Congress. He would never get his due in a party like TMC," he said. West Bengal goes to polls in April-May 2021, where Mamata Banerjee eyes a third consecutive term.