Former CPI-M leader Pratik-ur Rahman formally joined the Trinamul Congress on Saturday afternoon, taking the party flag from national General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee at the Diamond harbour office.
The induction took place on the road outside the Diamond Harbour MP’s office at Amtala, marking an unprecedented instance of a leader joining Trinamul in a public street event.
Pratik-ur, who had contested against Abhishek Banerjee in the last Lok Sabha election from Diamond Harbour on a CPI-M ticket, said he had joined TMC to work for the organisation and had not sought any election ticket.
Abhishek echoed the claim, stating that Pratik-ur had clearly told him he would not accept a ticket even if offered.
Soon after Pratik-ur was seen with Abhishek Banerjee, the CPI-M expelled him from the party under Article 19, Sub-clause 56 of its constitution.
The expulsion followed swift internal action, including the removal of Pratik-ur’s name from a locker allotted to him at the SFI office in Amtala, where he previously held Locker No. 3.
Explaining why the joining was held on the road, Abhishek Banerjee said Pratik-ur had “shown the CPI-M the road,” while Pratik-ur remarked that the street itself symbolised showing the way.
Addressing allegations that Pratik-ur had struck a “deal” with Trinamul, Abhishek dismissed the charge, saying Pratik-ur had refused any ticket and only wanted to work for the party.
He criticised the CPI-M for branding a long-time party worker as a traitor, alleging intolerance towards those who did not submit unquestioningly to the leadership.
Abhishek Banerjee also questioned the CPI-M’s ideological stance, referring to its positions on electoral roll revision and welfare schemes like Lakshmir Bhandar.
He accused the Left of double standards across states and of belittling government assistance to marginalised people by calling it charity.
Before his expulsion, Pratik-ur had written to the CPI-M stating his intention to step down from the state committee, district committee and even primary membership.
While sections of the party had tried to retain him—senior leaders had reached out and supporters had spoken in his favour—the effort ultimately failed.
In recent days, Pratik-ur had openly criticised state secretary Mohammed Salim, alleging the introduction of a “corporate culture” within the party, claims the CPI-M leadership has rejected.
On Saturday, both Abhishek Banerjee and Pratik-ur jointly targeted the CPI-M.