Mithun Chakraborty Faces Criticism from Mamata Banerjee for Joining BJP

In a strikingly candid speech at an election rally in Islampur, North Dinajpur, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing attack on actor-turned-politician Mithun Chakraborty. Banerjee criticized Chakraborty for defecting from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the crucial 2021 assembly polls. She expressed betrayal over Chakraborty’s switch, referencing his previous appointment as a TMC Rajya Sabha MP, and condemning his allegiance to the RSS and BJP, which she viewed as a move to protect his son involved in a legal issue.

Chakraborty, who was sent to the Rajya Sabha by the TMC in 2014, faced controversies during his tenure, particularly with the Saradha scam, which tarnished several TMC leaders’ reputations. After being interrogated, Chakraborty resigned from the Rajya Sabha in 2016 citing health reasons, and distanced himself from politics until his public re-entry in 2021. His return to the political scene was marked by a significant meeting with BJP leaders and was formalized at a rally in Kolkata, which was also addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Reacting to Banerjee’s accusations, Chakraborty, while campaigning in Darjeeling, retorted robustly, labeling himself as everything from a traitor to a chief. He attributed Banerjee’s harsh criticism to the increasing support for the BJP, as evidenced by the growing crowd at their rallies. This ongoing political feud highlights the intense rivalry and shifting allegiances as West Bengal gears up for the upcoming election phase.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright