‘We are fist Indian, then Bengali’: Rebel TMC leader’s salvo at Mamata amid reports of switch to BJP

New Delhi: Amid reports of TMC heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari switching loyalties to the saffron party, the disgruntled leader on Tuesday fired fresh salvo at Mamata-led government.

Amid the ongoing insider-outsider debate triggered by TMC leadership to counter the BJP in 2021 assembly polls, Adhikari said, “Bengal is very much a part of India and people coming from other states can’t be treated as outsiders”.

“For us, we are first Indians and then Bengalis. We need to reinstate democracy in West Bengal. Democracy cannot be for the party, by the party, and of the party” said the rebel TMC lawmaker.

Mamata-led TMC has been galvanising its support base to oppose BJP for parachute landing of its leaders from other states to gear up for the Assembly polls.

Adhikari resigned as Minister of Transport, Irrigation and Waterways on November 27 over differences with the party leadership, triggering speculation that he may quit the ruling TMC ahead of the next year’s Assembly polls.

Suvendu Adhikari may join BJP this week, to get Z security

Suvendu Adhikari is likely to end months of suspense this week by formally joining the BJP, reportedly in presence of Home Minister Amit Shah.

Adhikari has been at loggerheads with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and has not been attending state cabinet meetings.

For the last few months, Adhikari was seen addressing rallies without using TMC symbols and flags.

Adhikari was the key man behind Banerjee’s movement in Nandigram in East Midnapore in 2007 which helped her oust the 34-year Left Front rule in Bengal.