Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday asked her party colleagues to stay away from infighting and asserted that a united Trinamul could conquer Delhi.
"If Trinamul (workers) do not quarrel among themselves, there is no power that can defeat the party. If Trinamul (workers) have a mutual understanding among themselves, they will fight and conquer Delhi," Mamata said in West Midnapore's Salboni where she pulled up a few Trinamul leaders for factionalism.
"You have to continue with your fight.... The panchayat poll is there but the big game is ahead (the 2024 Lok Sabha elections). If you want to wipe out the BJP you have to make your gram panchayats stronger. You have to do politics in a good way to oust the BJP government. Remember, the entire country has been united (against the BJP) and you have to continue fighting," said Mamata.
A Trinamul leader said Mamata's message was crucial because despite rural polls being around the corner, reports of factionalism in the party come from various pockets of Bengal. Several Trinamul leaders in West Midnapore fear that despite Trinamul national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee conducting a public poll to select candidates for the rural polls, rebels may play spoilsport.
"Didi picked the right spot to raise this issue.... Among all south Bengal districts, reports of factionalism (in Trinamul) are the most in West Midnapore," said a Trinamul leader.
Mamata said an official candidate should get the backing of all leaders in the party.
"At times, our opinions differ. The best part about democracy is that even in one political party, there can be different views. However, we should remember that finally whoever gets the party symbol, we need to support his or her candidature.... We need to think about the party at all times," said Mamata.
Mamata warned at least half a dozen senior party leaders reportedly involved in infighting and asked them to work together. She also asked Trinamul's West Midnapore district chief Sujoy Hazra to "behave properly" with Midnapore MLA and actress June and "settle" his "problem" with junior panchayat minister and Keshpur MLA Seuli Saha.
