MP Ambika Banerjee shared a platform with her bête noire and Union minister Ahir Chowdhury.
Rumblings in the Trinamool Congress grew with veteran leader Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay alleging today that chief minister Mamata Banerjee was surrounded by "opportunists" and MP Ambika Banerjee sharing a platform with her bête noire and Union minister Ahir Chowdhury.
Sobhandeb, who was assaulted recently in a factional clash and demanded punishment, said the party could take appropriate decision against him, if it felt like it, but, however, added, "I was with Mamata Banerjee althrough and will remain if he gets the respect".
"She is surrounded by opportunists. Those who have infiltrated into TMC from other parties with an eye for loaves and fishes were gaining. The newcomers in the party are engaged in syndicates (supply of construction materials)," Chattopadhyay, chief whip of the TMC legislature party and trade union leader, told a meeting of his supporters.
Chattopadhyay's fresh salvo came on a day when Ambika Banerjee, TMC MP from Howrah district, shared a platform with Adhir Chowdhury, the new minister of state for railways, and showered praise on him, describing him as a "dynamic person".
He said Mamata Banerjee had herself spoken out against the practice of paying and accepting "cut money", sending a stern message for probity in party affairs.
"She has identified the malaise and its medicine," he added.
Chattopadhyay also said he had been with the party supremo during the Nandigram movement when she was in the opposition as also in the party programmes in Jangalmahal. The chief minister has not still spoken on the assault on him.
Ambika Banerjee while referring to Adhir Chowdhury as a "dynamic person" hoped "he would perform well as a railway minister".
Banerjee, a veteran TMC leader, defended his attending the railway programmes today at the Howrah station (new complex) including the commencement of work for development of Santragachi as a major passenger terminal.
The TMC MP said he attended the programme since it pertained to the development in his constituency.
Asked if the TMC losing railway portfolio was a loss for West Bengal, he said it was a loss for the country.
Today's developments came close on the heels of another TMC leader from Singur Rabindranath Bhattacherjee, an MLA, who is unhappy after his Agriculture portfolio was changed and has since rebelled against the party.
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