Mahua Moitra feels TMC rebels should have done like Suvendu: 'I have respect for him'

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra, who has not minced words over the exit of several rebel MLAs and MPs from the party, has said that she has respect for West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, for the latter was transparent in his plan to leave the party and join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Also read: Several TMC rebels jumping ship carry baggage: Is 'washing machine' back at work?

Speaking with Hindustan Times in an interview over the ongoing crisis in the TMC, which has been deserted by many MLAs in the West Bengal Assembly and MPs in Parliament, Mahua cited the case of Suvendu, who left the party of Mamata Banerjee in 2020 and joined the saffron camp.

The 51-year-old MP, who represents Krishnagar in the Lok Sabha, told the news outlet that she could have been a rebel as well, but would have done it Suvendu’s way.

Mahua calls Adhikari's way 'clean, transparent'

“Suvendu said I want to be the next person in command. As long as Abhishek (Banerjee) is there, I will not get that spot. Hence, I will part ways. I will go to BJP. There’s a certain amount of clean, transparent way of doing that. I respect that. I have respect for Suvendu,” she said, adding that the same was not done by those who are dissenting today, blaming Abhishek.

“I have not been in touch with him (Suvendu) since he left but he’s put his money where his mouth is. So why don’t any of these people? If any of these 60 MLAs had a problem with Abhishek, why did they not quit the party before the 2026 elections, join the BJP and win on a BJP ticket?” Mahua asked. She has said time and again that Mamata is the "real TMC" even as the rebellion intensifies.

It may be mentioned here that Suvendu defeated Mamata two consecutive times, in the 2021 and 2026 Assembly elections, including in her own den Bhabanipur this year, to become the CM.

Also read: TMC on the brink: Parliamentary split, CID searches and growing rebellion

Nearly 60 TMC MLAs in the Bengal Assembly, who have been elected in this year’s election, and reportedly 20 MPs in the Lok Sabha have revolted against Mamata-Abhishek leadership. While the dissenters’ group has called it the main opposition in the state, by the virtue of its supporting numbers, that in the Lower House has sought to join the National Democratic Alliance, if not directly the BJP.

Mahua, who believes the actual number of rebel MPs in the Lok Sabha is not 20 as it is being said, and the only option that they have is to merge with the BJP, has been critical of the rebels over the past few days.

Mahua called rebels 'greedy, self-serving traitors'

On Monday (June 8), Mahua posted a series of posts on X targeting the rebels. In one, she asked them to win elections on their own. It was the same day when the rebel MPs held a meeting at the residence of Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, where CM Suvendu was also present. They later met the CM again at the residence of Satabdi Roy, one of the rebel MPs, in New Delhi.

“MPs won in 2024 on TMC ticket. Mandate was NOT for NDA. All the greedy self-serving traitors with yellow-stained pants can please join BJP now- resign your seats & contest on BJP ticket. Let’s see what big heroes you are,” she said.

Also read: Mamata moves to curb Abhishek Banerjee’s clout amid ‘anti-Bhaipo’ revolt in TMC

In another, she blasted fellow parliamentarian Yusuf Pathan for allegedly flying to Delhi after Union Home Minister Amit Shah allegedly called him.

“Have some courage. You played for India. Our district voted you in with a huge margin. Have some shame & some spine,” Mahua, who was in the Congress before joining the TMC in 2010, said.

Addressing the rebel MPs, the TMC parliamentarian said in the interview that they were free to call themselves Kakoli Congress (after rebel MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar) or Satabdi Congress or BJP-B team in Bengal and sit aside.

“They are welcome to sit aside and vote for the BJP. Nobody can stop that. But that’s the end of their Lok Sabha career,” she told the news outlet.