Trinamul on Sunday warned its rebel leaders contesting as Independents for the February 27 civic polls against the assumption that the party would take them back if they win.
Partha Chatterjee, appointed Trinamul’s national vice-president on Saturday, said such aspirations will not be entertained as the party has decided take the stern measure to expel those who haven’t withdrawn from the fray even after the final warning.
“Contesting against the official candidates of the party, dreaming of defeating them… after this, if they harbour hopes of coming back to the party, it will simply not happen. The official candidates will anyway win,” said Chatterjee on Sunday.
“Many went to the BJP before the Assembly election and have been trying to return (to Trinamul) since the results. But the party did not take everyone back,” added Chatterjee, the chief of the party’s disciplinary committee.
Officially, the final date for the official withdrawal of candidature, by informing the state election commission, was February 12.
The party disciplinary committee issued clear instructions to its leadership in the districts on Thursday to inform dissenting party leaders contesting as Independents that if rebels did not publicly declare their withdrawal from the fray and support the official Trinamul candidates in 48 hours, they would be expelled.
Rebel candidates were supposed to distribute leaflets telling voters they are withdrawing from the fray and campaigning for Trinamul’s authorised candidates.
But many rebels stayed defiant.
Before Sunday, nearly 120 such Independent candidates were expelled from Trinamul. By Sunday evening, it expelled around 70 more, including 61 in North 24-Parganas, five in Hooghly and two in East Midnapore.
“This is a rare move in Trinamul. Many are surprised at the tough stand. It remains to be seen what actually happens with the victorious Independents. But there won’t be
too many of them… maybe not even a double-digit total, across the 108 municipalities going to polls,” said a leader.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on December 23 last year after Calcutta civic polls had not allowed three victorious Independent candidates with Trinamul links who wanted to rejoin the party.
Minister demise
Senior Trinamul leader and a Bengal cabinet minister Sadhan Pande breathed his last at a Mumbai hospital on Sunday, succumbing to prolonged illness from kidney-related complications. He was 71. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee condoled the loss.
“Our senior colleague, party leader and Cabinet Minister Sadhan Pande has passed away today morning at Mumbai. Had a wonderful relation for long. Deeply pained at this loss. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, followers,” tweeted chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
Pande, a nine-term MLA (never defeated in an Assembly election) from Burtolla and Maniktala, was originally in the Congress. Pande had been part of Trinamul since 2001.
Till he fell ill in July last year, he was in charge of the consumer affairs department.
The state government announced a half-day holiday in mourning, from 2pm on Monday, for all state-run organisations and institutions. His last rites would be performed on Monday.