A recent remark of Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has opened up new fissures within the ruling TMC with TMC leader Santanu Sen asking his party colleague Atin Ghosh to clarify his stand.
On Saturday, Adhikari claimed that Deputy Kolkata Mayor Ghosh wanted to join BJP in the run-up to the 2021 Assembly elections. “Atin Ghosh wanted to join the BJP before the 2021 Assembly elections. He said if he did not get the TMC ticket from the Kashipur-Belgachhia seat, he may join BJP and fight from the same constituency on a BJP ticket. However, the TMC fielded him in the polls,” Adhikari had said on Saturday.
Ghosh denied Adhikari’s claim. “I never met Adhikari after he resigned from TMC. What he said is baseless. I don’t know why he chose me but he wanted to spread confusion,” said Ghosh.
Taking note of Adhikari’s claim, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Santanu Sen asked Ghosh to hold a press conference to clear the air. “We believe this allegation (against Ghosh) is false. So, we want our leader to strongly protest against this, hold a press conference to publicly deny it and file a defamation case against the Leader of Opposition. If the Leader of Opposition (Adhikari) dares, Atin Ghosh should take up the challenge. We believe our beloved Atinda will unmask the accuser and prove him a liar. If he files a case, we will definitely stand by him. Eagerly waiting for a no-compromise fight,” said Sen.
Sen’s cryptic remark comes in the wake of Ghosh’s criticism of Sen after the latter backed the protest over the rape and murder at RG Kar hospital in Kolkata.
Amid the protests over the RG Kar incident, which had put the TMC government on a backfoot, Sen had backed the protesters and criticised former RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh. Sen’s wife, Kakoli, a TMC councillor in the KMC, had also backed the protesters. Notably, Kakoli Sen is a TMC councillor from Ghosh’s constituency, and was removed from the WhatsApp group of councillors.
Recently, Ghosh had targeted the Sen family. “Atin Ghosh has been consistently attacking Santanu and his wife on the RG Kar issue. Now, when Suvendu attacked Ghosh, Santanu didn’t want to miss the opportunity to embarrass Ghosh,” a senior TMC leader said.