Rattled by the banner of revolt raised by the three party MPs ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha election, the Trinamul Congress is determined to deal it with an iron hand. This was made clear by all-India party general secretary and MP Mukul Roy on Saturday.
Kunal Ghosh, Satabdi Roy and Tapas Pal on Friday made what Mr Roy described as “anti-party” speeches at a programme at Ahmerst Street. This programme was organised by rebel party MLA Sikha Mitra. Her husband and party MP from Diamond Harbour Somen Mitra who was believed to be the brain behind the programme was also present.
On Saturday, the party cracked the whip and sent a letter to Speaker of the Assembly Biman Banerjee informing him that Ms Mitra had been suspended for anti-party activities and therefore, she should be treated as an unattached member. This means that Ms Mitra would be ostracised and would not be allowed to sit on the treasury benches. Sources said that Ms Banerjee felt that indiscipline and defiant behaviour of Mr Ghosh, Ms Roy and Mr Pal on Friday may send a wrong message to the people and adversely affect the electoral prospects of the party.
Film personalities Ms Roy and Mr Pal are Lok Sabha MPs while journalist-turned-politician Mr Ghosh is a member of the Rajya Sabha. “What has upset Didi is their audacity and ingratitude. They are outsiders who did not make any sacrifice for the party and still were rewarded with MP’s posts. Didi is particularly furious with Kunal Ghosh who left no one in doubt as to who was his target when he said yesterday that there should be a limit to pretence of honesty,” a Trinamul Congress MP close to Ms Banerjee said. On Saturday, Mr Roy said that the disciplinary committee of the party was sending show cause notices to the three MPs for their anti-party activity and speeches. However, Mr Roy persistently refused to elaborate on what kind of punishment would be meted out to the trio.