After Trinamool Congress rebel MLAs invited Mamata Banerjee to join them as an advisor, senior Trinamool Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay echoed the same sentiment on Sunday. This marks his first public interaction with the media following reports of his alignment with the rebel faction. However, he has not yet formally endorsed the draft prepared by the rebels, led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, for submission to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
“There has been pressure on me to take on the role, but Kakoli has been the driving force behind this initiative,” Bandyopadhyay stated. Kakoli, a longtime associate of Mamata Banerjee, signed the draft as the Chief Whip of the group. He clarified that he is not currently seeking a leadership position, although other MPs may encourage him to reconsider.
Sudip revealed that West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari contacted him on Sunday, anticipating a meeting in Delhi later in the evening. He expressed his intention to sign the letter, seeking official recognition from the Speaker, in Adhikari’s presence. Sudip also mentioned his interactions with BJP leader and Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, as well as a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah upon his arrival in Delhi.
The veteran Trinamool leader disclosed that his discussion with Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday lasted approximately 70 minutes, focusing on Mamata Banerjee’s health and welfare. Known for his allegiance to Mamata Banerjee, Sudip faced a temporary expulsion from the party in 2023 for engaging with then Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani and allegedly pursuing a ministerial position in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.
