The Trinamul Congress on Saturday evening showed signs of distancing itself from industries minister and former education minister Partha Chatterjee after he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with alleged irregularities in the recruitment of school teachers.

The stance came as a surprise to many as the party had earlier stood by all its leaders who had been arrested by central agencies.

In a hurriedly convened news meet, Trinamul spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the party and the government will take action against the party’s secretary-general and minister if his guilt is established in the court of law.

“Trinamul Congress has full faith in the judiciary. If the allegation against Partha Chatterjee is established in the court of law, the Trinamul Congress and the state government will take proper action against him,” said Ghosh.

Trinamul took almost eight hours to clear its stand on the arrest of Partha through a news meet where state urban development minister and city mayor Firhad Hakim and ministers Aroop Biswas and Chandrima Bhattacharyya were also present. The news meet followed a meeting chaired by the party's all India general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

Partha was arrested by the ED on Saturday morning after an interrogation for over 27 hours at his Naktala residence in Calcutta. Over Rs 21 crore in cash was found at the flat of Arpita Mukherjee, reportedly his close aide. Partha was produced before the city sessions court this afternoon and sent to ED custody for two days.

The Opposition had a field day going after the ruling party, especially chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Most Trinamul leaders lapsed into silence, which made the party’s embarrassment clear.

Multiple sources in the party said that fast-moving developments necessitated a formal reaction and a meeting was convened by Abhishek. There, it was decided that the party will not disown Partha immediately but won’t take responsibility for him till proven innocent.

“It has been decided for the time being that he will neither be removed from the cabinet nor the post of party’s secretary general till the court’s verdict comes. But at the same time, it is clear that the party would not hit the streets for him,” said a Trinamul leader.

Trinamul sources said that the stance is different from what it had when Madan Mitra was arrested in connection with the Saradha case or when four other ministers were arrested in connection with the Narada case last year.

“The party and the government-backed Mitra and four other ministers when they were arrested and extended all support including legal assistance. Party supporters held protest programmes.... Now, this part is missing in the case of Partha Chatterjee,” said a senior party leader.

Trinamul insiders said the party decided to wait and watch for now as it is not in a position to deny the charges, particularly after the recovery of such a huge amount of cash from Arpita’s possession.

“There is a visual impact ... after recovery of such a huge amount of cash linked to a case that alleges irregularity in recruitment,” said a Trinamul leader.

“SSC is an exam in which more than 70 per cent of the graduates in the state appear. The party cannot take a risk of hurting the sentiments of the educated youth,” said a Trinamul source.

A party insider explained that there was no visible evidence against Mitra or the other four ministers.

“The party cannot disown Chatterjee straightaway as it can create trouble within the party particularly when a number of leaders were being called by the central agencies. The party cannot also stand by Chatterjee as it can hurt the sentiments of educated youths...,” said a leader present in the meeting.

A senior Trinamul leader pointed out that this is the reason why the chief minister, who sat in a dharna after CBI attempted to question the then police commissioner Rajeev Kumar in February 2019, held rallies after arrests of Mitra and went to the CBI office soon after four ministers were arrested last year, did not say a word in support of Partha, who is one of her oldest aides.

“Trinamul had no connection with the money recovered by the ED or the woman who was the custodian…” Ghosh said on Saturday evening.

Trinamul leaders attacked central agencies saying they were partial in their approach — referring to the lack of action against Narada accused Suvendu Adhikari — but one claimed Partha was innocent.

“Why are the agencies not questioning the man (Suvendu) who joined BJP? Had Partha Chatterjee joined BJP two months ago, he would have been cleared of all charges,” said Hakim at the news conference.

However, Hakim could not answer when asked whether any such proposal from BJP had reached Chatterjee recently.

Earlier on Saturday, Chatterjee, while briefly talking to reporters after his arrest, dropped the first hint that the party was distancing itself from him. Answering a question on whether he had spoken to Mamata, he mumbled: "I had tried, but could not reach her."

The ED, a source said, mentioned in its arrest memo that the minister twice tried to call the chief minister.

“This also gives a signal that the party wants to maintain a distance from Chatterjee right at this moment," said a Trinamul insider.

However, Hakim said that there was no chance to call anyone during a raid as the agency takes phones from the person accused soon after they start questioning.

Ends.