West Bengal's former Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee on Saturday congratulated Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari for the first time since the state election results, while warning his government against political repression.
She said, "Do not oppress people. Remember, it may one day come back to you."
Mamata's remarks came as she took over as president of her faction of the Trinamool Congress following the resignation of former state president Chandrima Bhattacharya amid growing infighting within the party.
Addressing party workers, Mamata accused rebel leaders of illegally taking control of the party's rented state headquarters in Kolkata and blamed Chandrima for handing over the office to them. She said the party possessed all rental documents and insisted the office belonged to the TMC, not to any individual or rival group. Mamata also announced that she would personally oversee the party's affairs in the state, while MLAs Kunal Ghosh and Madan Mitra would serve as state general secretaries.
Reacting to the ongoing split in the party, Mamata said the departure of a few leaders would not weaken the TMC. She added that even if the party lost its iconic "Jora Ghasphul" (Twin Flowers) symbol, it would continue to enjoy public support because people identify the party by its work rather than its election symbol.
In a separate message, Mamata extended her best wishes to Suvendu without mentioning him by name, while reminding the BJP-led state government of its responsibility to maintain peace. Referring to alleged political violence in the state, she warned that "every action has a reaction" and said, "The more you oppress us, the stronger we will become."
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India has asked both rival TMC factions to submit their claims over the party's name and election symbol by Monday, as the dispute over the party's leadership continues.
