At a time when Trinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee is still opposing to extend her party’s support to UPA’s presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee, her party MLA Shikha Mitra, the wife of Trinamul Congress MP Somen Mitra, on Sunday claimed that Mr Mukherjee was the best candidate for the country’s next President.
Ms Mitra was speaking in a programme organised to celebrate former chief minister late Bidhan Chandra Roy’s birthday at Bidhan Bhavan, the headquarters of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC). Mr Mitra was also present in the day-long programme at Bidhan Bhavan, fuelling speculation that he might leave the Trinamul Congress. However, Mr Mitra claimed: “I come here every year on this day.”
Responding to a specific question, Ms Mitra advocated for Mr Mukherjee’s candidature for the country’s next President. “I know him for many years. He is our family friend. I believe that he is the best candidate for the country’s next President.” On being asked whether she would defy the Trinamul Congress instruction if the party asks her not to vote for Mr Mukherjee, she, however, mellowed down. “I have never gone against my party. I will abide by the decision of the party,” she added.
Meanwhile, without naming her party, Ms Mitra, the MLA from Chowringhee Assembly constituency, also said that she could not do politics of sycophancy. “I am not being able to work for the people of my area. The politics of us and them will not continue and cannot,” she added. The Trinamul Congress MP’s wife used the occasion to vehemently attack her party. Ms Mitra, who did not attend the current session of the Assembly, added: “I am committed to work for the people of my area. But I cannot do so for the factional feud (in the Trinamul Congress). Sometimes, I feel why I am holding on to this chair (of MLA).”
In a sharp reaction to this, Trinamul Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee said: “The party has got the report about what Shikha Mitra has said. If anybody believes that he or she can do this kind of things inside the party with the CPI(M) and the Congress by his or her sides, then he or she can quit the Trinamul Congress. Ms Mitra should not forget that she got the Assembly ticket on quota, not on her credentials. “