Mamata Banerjee cancels meeting at home after only 20 out of 80 TMC MLAs turn up; social media reacts, ‘Game on’ | Today’s news
Mamata Banerjee’s tough times are apparently getting worse. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislature party meeting was canceled due to low turnout. Only one-fourth of the TMC MLAs attended the meeting at former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence.
The TMC currently has 80 agreement MLAs in the new assembly. However, only 20 MLAs attended Sunday’s meeting, according to Anandabazar Patrika. Since the required minimum attendance required for a valid meeting was not met, the meeting was cancelled.
Read also | TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee claimed injuries after allegedly being attacked by BJP supporters
The meeting on Sunday was called by Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, TMC legislature party leader. To make the meeting more important, it was scheduled at Mamata Banerjee’s residence. Chattopadhyay also asked Mamata to attend so that coordination between the party leadership and MLAs could be improved, the publication added.
Notable absentees included Kasba MLA Javed Khan, Entally MLA Sandeepan Saha and Metiabruz MLA Abdul Khaleque Mollah. Attempts by ABP to contact the MLA remained unsuccessful.
According to TMC spokesperson and MLA Kunal Ghosh, MLAs have been busy following the alleged attack on Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur on Saturday. According to him, party workers are also facing attacks in various areas.
Some have also been arrested in cases that the TMC claims are false. Many MLAs, he said, have asked to postpone the meeting due to the situation.
According to Ghosh, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee was also assaulted. In fact, Didi herself posted about it on social media.
Read also | Abhishek Banerjee attack: 5 arrested after mob attack on TMC MP
“Yesterday BJP supporters brutally attacked and lynched AITCofficial Lok Sabha Floor Leader Abhishek Banerjee. The horrifying videos are in the public domain. Today our Lok Sabha Chief Whip Kalyan Banerjee has also fallen victim to a planned BJP attack,” she wrote.
“BJP killing democracy (sic),” she added.
Ghosh added that party workers have been instructed to hold block-wide protest marches on Monday against the attacks on Abhishek and Kalyan.
Meanwhile, social media reacted to the cancellation of the TMC meeting.
“60 MLAs absent from Mamata Banerjee TMC mandatory meeting. Now cancelled. They know very well the impending doom that is coming. If this continues, they will not be able to arrange the glorious program on July 21,” wrote one.
Another user wrote: “This is a big sign of problems inside TMC. Because of this, TMC may not have enough strength in the assembly.”
Read also | Locals beat TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur — ‘They wanted to kill’ | VIDEO
“BJP should open its doors just for fun. Only Didi, Abhishek-da and Kunal Ghosh will stay with TMC,” another user commented.
Another user commented, “Ask all parties to come together and wipe out Trinamool forever.”
“Khela hochchhe (continuing the game)!” came from another.
Attack on Abhishek Banerjee
Trinamool Congress workers protested across West Bengal on Sunday. They demonstrated against the alleged attack on TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur on 30 May. The incident triggered a sharp political confrontation between the TMC and the BJP.
According to TMC, Abhishek Banerjee was targeted with bricks, stones and eggs in South 24 Parganas. He suffered an injury near his eye. At that time, he visited families affected by post-election violence.
The alleged incident was caught on camera. Banerjee wore a cricket helmet to protect himself. The BJP also claimed that it had no involvement in the apparent attack. It was also claimed that the public was expressing anger against the leadership of the former ruling party.
TMC leader Madan Mitra alleged that the attacks against Abhishek and Kalyan were planned by the BJP. He said the saffron party did not want any opposition against her.
Five people have been arrested in connection with the attack on Abhishek Banerjee. They were produced before the court at Baruipur.
