TMC Shake-Up: Madan Mitra Joins Rebels After ED Summons, Blames Abhishek!
TMC Shake-Up: Madan Mitra Joins Rebels After ED Summons, Blames Abhishek!
High drama in West Bengal politics! TMC MLA Madan Mitra shifts to a rebel faction after his family faces ED summons in a recruitment scam. Is Abhishek Banerjee to blame? Dive into the latest political turmoil.
Trinamool Congress MLA Madan Mitra has made headlines by shifting his allegiance from Mamata Banerjee's camp to a rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee. This significant move comes hot on the heels of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoning Mitra's wife and two sons for questioning next week in connection with a money laundering probe into an alleged municipal recruitment scam in West Bengal.
Mitra, who previously faced arrest in the Saradha chit fund case (2014) and the Narada sting operation case (2021) on bribery charges, stated he had "only changed my room in assembly" and firmly denied any connection between his family's ED summons and his decision to join the rebels. He clarified, "My family has been summoned by a federal agency. My family will go and cooperate with the agency. But that is not linked to my joining (the rebels) today."
However, he pointed fingers at Abhishek Banerjee, nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, as a reason for his move, suggesting deep internal rifts within the party. This aligns with statements from other defectors, like Rabindranath Ghosh, who suggested that leaders might return if the party supremo took a firm stand against her nephew.
The alleged municipal recruitment scam, which is being investigated by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on CBI's findings, pertains to irregularities in appointments to various civic bodies across West Bengal. In June, the probe agency had searched seven locations in Kolkata and its adjoining areas, including Mitra's residences in Bhawanipur and Kalighat, and other premises in Dakshineswar, Santoshpur, Joka, and Beleghata. In October 2025, too, the CBI had searched Mitra's residence in connection with the same case, examining documents for nearly five hours.
The Trinamool Congress, including Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek, and MPs like Mahua Moitra, have frequently alleged that such "rebellions" are often a result of inducements, greed, or fear of the BJP and central agencies operating under the Narendra Modi government. Mitra's high-profile defection underscores the growing political instability and challenges faced by the ruling party in West Bengal.
