Madan Mitra's exit the final nail in coffin for Mamata?
In a shock move, TMC MLA Madan Mitra quit Mamata Banerjee's camp and joined the rebel Trinamool faction, blaming Abhishek Banerjee for the crisis. The move carries symbolic weight because Mitra had stood by Mamata through the party's rise and setbacks.
"I was with Mamata Banerjee, and will be with Mamata Banerjee. Even when I die, I will leave this world as a loyalist, not a traitor," Trinamool MLA Madan Mitra told India Today in June. A month on, the same Mitra, one of Mamata's earliest political companions, ditched her to join the rebel Trinamool camp. The three-decade-old party may have unravelled at breakneck speed, but Mitra's departure is perhaps the rudest shock to Mamata in the season of defections and rebellions.
Even while announcing his move, Mitra did not directly attack Mamata - a reminder of a relationship that has endured since both were in the Youth Congress. "I resigned because I was no longer able to work effectively within Mamata Banerjee's TMC," Mitra, known for his colourful public persona and quirky remarks, said. Instead, he put the blame squarely on Mamata's nephew, Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee, for the Trinamool crisis.
The party, which was routed in the Bengal elections, has been wrecked by a series of rebellions. First, around 60 of its 80 MLAs broke away under Ritabrata Banerjee's leadership. Next, 20 Lok Sabha MPs merged with a little-known outfit, Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), and backed the BJP-led NDA.
For Mamata, Mitra's exit will be a bitter pill to swallow. It will feel like a personal loss.
THE IMPORTANCE OF MADAN MITRA
In politics, loyalty is a trait rarely lived up to. Mitra's story was one of the few striking examples till now. Many may know him through memes (go check out the Facebook page called 'Madan Mitra at Unusual Places') and his larger-than-life persona, but Mitra has always been synonymous with Mamata's political journey.
Before entering politics, Mitra was a taxi driver and a union leader in the 1990s. Both Mitra and Mamata started their political career with the Indian Youth Congress. On July 21, 1993, when police opened fire on a Youth Congress protest led by Mamata, Mitra firmly stood by her. The police firing left 13 dead, and Mamata severely injured. It was just the beginning of their partnership.
When Mamata walked out of the Congress in 1998 to launch the Trinamool Congress, several of her aides preferred to wait and watch. In Bengal, the Left Front appeared invincible. For Mitra, it didn't matter much. He readily joined Mamata's TMC.
As the Trinamool expanded, Mitra soon became one of Mamata's most trusted lieutenants. He already commanded influence over several union bodies. It helped Mamata build TMC's organisational base. In the party's early days, Mitra was Mamata's go-to person.
Whether it was mobilising workers or campaigning during elections, Mitra remained a familiar presence. Mamata also relied on Mitra to manage party funds and oversee logistics during elections.
Mitra was elevated as the party's general secretary in 2000, and also went on to serve as the Trinamool Youth Congress chief.
When the Trinamool ended the Left's 34-year reign and stormed to power in 2011, Mitra was given the sports and transport portfolios. Throughout his career, Mitra has never dithered from publicly affirming his loyalty to Mamata.
"I can never think of leaving Didi (as Mamata is fondly called)," Mitra said ahead of the 2021 assembly polls, when several TMC leaders jumped ship to the BJP, including present Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
MAMATA'S SUPPORT DURING SETBACKS
However, Mitra's political career has seen its share of setbacks. In 2015, Mitra was named as an accused in the Saradha chit fund case, and was subsequently stripped of his ministerial posts. He was also arrested by the CBI.
And yet, through all of it, Mamata firmly backed her lieutenant. Their relationship weathered several political storms.
But calling Mitra just a politician will be an understatement. Just Google his images, and you will rarely find a picture of him without his trademark colourful kurtas, sunglasses and scarves. His impromptu music and dance videos, and 'Oh lovely' catchphrase during his random Facebook Live sessions, have often gone viral. He also starred in a movie called 'Oh! Lovely' that released in 2023.
His flamboyant public persona has also earned Mamata's ire. "Madan is a colourful character. At times, he becomes a little too colourful. And when that happens, it creates problems," Mamata said at a public event in 2021.
Such was the relationship between Mamata and Mitra. It survived triumphs as well as periods of turbulence.
That is why Mitra's departure will hurt Mamata more. Mitra stood with Mamata during years in the opposition, during her struggle against the Left, and when the party rose to power in 2011. He built the party along with Mamata brick-by-brick.
While Mitra joining the rebel camp will not boost its electoral arithmetic (it already has over 60 MLAs), it is the symbolism that matters. One of Mamata's steadfast loyalists leaving the party may just be the final nail in her faction's coffin. But 'street fighter' Mamata is known for bouncing back. It will be too early to write her off.
"I was with Mamata Banerjee, and will be with Mamata Banerjee. Even when I die, I will leave this world as a loyalist, not a traitor," Trinamool MLA Madan Mitra told India Today in June. A month on, the same Mitra, one of Mamata's earliest political companions, ditched her to join the rebel Trinamool camp. The three-decade-old party may have unravelled at breakneck speed, but Mitra's departure is perhaps the rudest shock to Mamata in the season of defections and rebellions.
Even while announcing his move, Mitra did not directly attack Mamata - a reminder of a relationship that has endured since both were in the Youth Congress. "I resigned because I was no longer able to work effectively within Mamata Banerjee's TMC," Mitra, known for his colourful public persona and quirky remarks, said. Instead, he put the blame squarely on Mamata's nephew, Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee, for the Trinamool crisis.
The party, which was routed in the Bengal elections, has been wrecked by a series of rebellions. First, around 60 of its 80 MLAs broke away under Ritabrata Banerjee's leadership. Next, 20 Lok Sabha MPs merged with a little-known outfit, Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), and backed the BJP-led NDA.
For Mamata, Mitra's exit will be a bitter pill to swallow. It will feel like a personal loss.
THE IMPORTANCE OF MADAN MITRA
In politics, loyalty is a trait rarely lived up to. Mitra's story was one of the few striking examples till now. Many may know him through memes (go check out the Facebook page called 'Madan Mitra at Unusual Places') and his larger-than-life persona, but Mitra has always been synonymous with Mamata's political journey.
Before entering politics, Mitra was a taxi driver and a union leader in the 1990s. Both Mitra and Mamata started their political career with the Indian Youth Congress. On July 21, 1993, when police opened fire on a Youth Congress protest led by Mamata, Mitra firmly stood by her. The police firing left 13 dead, and Mamata severely injured. It was just the beginning of their partnership.
When Mamata walked out of the Congress in 1998 to launch the Trinamool Congress, several of her aides preferred to wait and watch. In Bengal, the Left Front appeared invincible. For Mitra, it didn't matter much. He readily joined Mamata's TMC.
As the Trinamool expanded, Mitra soon became one of Mamata's most trusted lieutenants. He already commanded influence over several union bodies. It helped Mamata build TMC's organisational base. In the party's early days, Mitra was Mamata's go-to person.
Whether it was mobilising workers or campaigning during elections, Mitra remained a familiar presence. Mamata also relied on Mitra to manage party funds and oversee logistics during elections.
Mitra was elevated as the party's general secretary in 2000, and also went on to serve as the Trinamool Youth Congress chief.
When the Trinamool ended the Left's 34-year reign and stormed to power in 2011, Mitra was given the sports and transport portfolios. Throughout his career, Mitra has never dithered from publicly affirming his loyalty to Mamata.
"I can never think of leaving Didi (as Mamata is fondly called)," Mitra said ahead of the 2021 assembly polls, when several TMC leaders jumped ship to the BJP, including present Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
MAMATA'S SUPPORT DURING SETBACKS
However, Mitra's political career has seen its share of setbacks. In 2015, Mitra was named as an accused in the Saradha chit fund case, and was subsequently stripped of his ministerial posts. He was also arrested by the CBI.
And yet, through all of it, Mamata firmly backed her lieutenant. Their relationship weathered several political storms.
But calling Mitra just a politician will be an understatement. Just Google his images, and you will rarely find a picture of him without his trademark colourful kurtas, sunglasses and scarves. His impromptu music and dance videos, and 'Oh lovely' catchphrase during his random Facebook Live sessions, have often gone viral. He also starred in a movie called 'Oh! Lovely' that released in 2023.
His flamboyant public persona has also earned Mamata's ire. "Madan is a colourful character. At times, he becomes a little too colourful. And when that happens, it creates problems," Mamata said at a public event in 2021.
Such was the relationship between Mamata and Mitra. It survived triumphs as well as periods of turbulence.
That is why Mitra's departure will hurt Mamata more. Mitra stood with Mamata during years in the opposition, during her struggle against the Left, and when the party rose to power in 2011. He built the party along with Mamata brick-by-brick.
While Mitra joining the rebel camp will not boost its electoral arithmetic (it already has over 60 MLAs), it is the symbolism that matters. One of Mamata's steadfast loyalists leaving the party may just be the final nail in her faction's coffin. But 'street fighter' Mamata is known for bouncing back. It will be too early to write her off.
