Mamata stands by Kalyan; BJP suggests counseling

The Mamata Banerjee faction of the Trinamool Congress cried “victimisation” and expressed its full support to party MP Kalyan Banerjee after he was suspended from the Lok Sabha for the remainder of the Monsoon session due to an altercation and alleged use of unparliamentary language against breakaway members of his party, including some women MPs who had joined the NCPI post TMC’s debacle in the April-May Bengal Assembly elections.

Reacting to Wednesday’s developments in Lok Sabha senior TMC leader and party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said “One should not comment on whatever transpired in the House but for Kalyan da we firmly stand behind as he has not done anything wrong by showing the traitors the mirror … those who left Mamata Banerjee’s hand after the elections could not ever had won a panchayat election without using her picture … by reminding them of their treachery he has done the right thing … after today it is clear that the traitors are patronized by the BJP whereas Kalyan Banerjee is being victimised.”

Referring to an open stage altercation between Mamata Banerjee and Kalyan Banerjee during a rally on Tuesday where the latter told the former that it was only him who was standing by her and everyone had fled under pressure from the BJP. “Considering that at least now you should be more gentle while dealing with those who are with you,” Kalyan told the former Chief Minister in full public glare after she openly chided her for occupying the mike and speaking too long and making her wait for one hour.

Senior leaders from Bengal BJP hit back at Kalyan Banerjee for his “unparliamentary conduct.” Union Minister and former Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar questioned Kalyan’s “mental stability after the electoral loss in Bengal,” saying “he is depressed and disturbed after TMC’s loss which is why he is even publicly quarreling with Mamata Banerjee … he has been rightly served … he deserved suspension … more than that he deserves counseling.”

Meanwhile, in a parallel development, the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday served former Bengal minister and breakaway TMC leader Madan Mitra with a notice to appear before its officials in connection with a job recruitment scam in some municipalities during when the TMC was in power in Bengal.

Mitra, who was previously with Mamata Banerjee faction, had quickly changed sides early this month to join the rebel faction of TMC led by Opposition Leader Ritabrata Banerjee after similar notices were served on his wife and son.