Amid swirling speculation over his political future, Trinamul heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday said he was still part of the Trinamul Congress and the Mamata Banerjee government.

“Unio taranni, amio chharini (Neither has she thrown me out, nor have I quit),” said Adhikari, referring to the Trinamul supremo, to loud cheers from a 20,000-plus-strong audience at an event at Ramnagar in East Midnapore.

“I am still a primary, active member of a political party. I am still a member of a cabinet. The chief minister has kept me as a minister…. Political statements cannot be made while being in the party, while remaining a member of the cabinet…. I am the son of the same soil as Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar. I will never do anything unethical,” added the 49-year-old state transport minister.

Speculations over his possible switch to the BJP or creating a political party aligned with the NDA have been doing the rounds for years, intensified by the rise of Mamata’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee in the party as her political successor.

Adhikari didn’t say anything about his plans at the rally, but did seem to admit there were rajnoitik mawtantawr (differences of political opinion) and bibhed (disintegration), which could lead to bichchhed (separation).

“There are times, once in a while, when there are differences of political opinion, disintegration… from that disintegration, there can be separation. But for as long as one is in that party, in that cabinet… for as long as decision-makers have not thrown you out, or you haven’t quit yourself, till then statements like that cannot be made from such platforms (like these),” he said.

His address, however, dripped with sarcasm. “All the posts I hold, to all of them I was elected, neither selected nor nominated, mind you. I have been in politics since 1996, from a very young age… as a passion, not as a profession,” said Adhikari. “I am not a seasonal bird. I am not here for a day or two, but 24x7. I have a relationship of the soul with the masses. I am there for them during Covid-19. I am there for them during lockdown. I am there for them after Cyclone Amphan. I am with each one of them, all the time, not confined to a room, I am found in the fields,” he added. “I hope this gamchha-clad, panta-fed village boy will continue to get your love and blessings.”

Trinamul sources said it was clear that he referred to party strategist Prashant Kishor as seasonal bird and to Abhishek when he said he (Adhikari) was not selected.

But the party welcomed Adhikari’s statements. “He has not decided on leaving the party…. If he stays, it is a matter of happiness,” said Saugata Roy, a Trinamul vice-president and Dum Dum MP.

Roy on Thursday admitted he has been negotiating with Adhikari under Mamata’s instructions, that the two met on Monday evening and are likely to meet again next week.

Sources said Roy’s talks with Adhikari are part of a last-ditch effort from Kalighat (read Mamata) to keep the heavyweight in the party ahead of a crucial perform-or-perish Bengal election.

“He doesn’t have demands, he has some concerns. Those have been conveyed to the chief minister, who has some things to say as well. There will be more talks. Both sides are, as of today, willing to discuss and open to possibilities,” said a source, adding that Trinamul MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay was also negotiating with Adhikari over the phone.

He said Adhikari is “bitterly displeased” with the loss of control as the party’s observer over six key districts of Bankura, West Midnapore, Jhargram, Murshidabad, Malda and North Dinajpur, other than his own. The post of observer was abolished in a major reshuffle on July 23.

“Although she (Mamata) made the announcements, the designs were that of Prashant Kishor and Abhishek…. That Suvendu did not like. He made it clear that he would not take instructions from PK and Abhishek,” said the source.

Rivals are keeping close watch on developments. Congress MP and state unit chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who welcomed Adhikari to join his party, mocked Trinamul.

“Mamata Banerjee should go to him and fall at his feet, begging him to stay,” said Chowdhury. BJP state unit chief Dilip Ghosh iterated that Adhikari was welcome to join his party.