Looking at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the launch of free WiFi in Kolkata's Park Street last evening, you wouldn't think so. But yesterday was black Thursday for her party. First, its MP Srinjoy Bose, quit the Rajya Sabha and the Trinamool. Significantly, Mr Bose had got bail on Wednesday, 75 days after being arrested in the Saradha scam. Trinamool responded by saying Mr Bose was under pressure from the power at the Centre.
That, curiously, echoed what Ms Banerjee had said about another Trinamool MP Mukul Roy. After being questioned by the CBI last Friday in the Saradha case, Mr Roy had gone to attend Trinamool's core committee meeting at Ms Banerjee's house. And she was reported to have said at the meeting, "BJP is using CBI to pressure Mukul to split the party or go to jail".
The Opposition also points at another probable reason for Mr Bose quitting Trinamool. His family has a stevedoring business at the Haldia Port. Recently, port operations there have also come under the CBI scanner. Mr Bose, many believe, could not withstand dual pressure: for Saradha and Haldia. The only thing Mr Bose said in a press release, "I have realised politics is not my cup of tea."
Finally, actor Locket Chatterjee, member of Trinamool for over a year and often seen on stage with Mamata Banerjee, also exited the party for the BJP.
The Opposition is waiting for more to befall the Trinamool. "Let TMC be prepared. More shocks are coming, this is just the beginning," said CPM MP Md Salim.
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