Kolkata: Amid a deepening internal crisis and an imminent split within the Trinamool Congress, veteran actor turned politician and party MP Shatrughan Sinha has firmly thrown his weight behind party supremo Mamata Banerjee. Assuring his unwavering loyalty to the West Bengal Chief Minister, Sinha stated that he stands rock solid with her in this difficult hour and has absolutely no intention of switching allegiance to any other political outfit.
The development comes at a time when the ruling Trinamool Congress is staring at a major vertical split. A disgruntled faction of rebel parliamentarians, reportedly including leaders who were once considered close confidantes of the Chief Minister like Saayoni Ghosh, is scheduled to meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday. The group intends to stake a claim for recognition as the real Trinamool Congress. Adding to the state government’s woes, a police complaint has also been registered against Banerjee in Kolkata recently.
Reacting to the brewing rebellion, the Asansol MP suggested that the sudden defection of his colleagues could be driven by fear, temptation, or intense pressure from central investigative agencies. Speaking to news agency ANI, Sinha questioned the timing of the rebellion launched by leaders who until recently routinely praised Banerjee and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. He highlighted that despite recent political challenges, Banerjee commands immense public credibility and retains a formidable forty one percent vote share in West Bengal, a milestone that most mainstream political parties fail to achieve.
Addressing the recent controversies that have plagued the state administration, Sinha strongly condemned the unfortunate incidents at RG Kar Medical College and Sandeshkhali, labeling them as shameful. However, he defended the Chief Minister against direct accountability, drawing parallels with past law and order incidents in states like Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand where chief ministers were not personally singled out for local administrative failures. He also dismissed rumors of permanent internal friction regarding senior leader Kalyan Banerjee, describing him as an exceptional parliamentarian whose recent discontent was likely centered around protocol and party discipline rather than an actual shift in loyalty.
Reflecting on his extensive political journey, Sinha acknowledged his thirty year association with the Bharatiya Janata Party under the mentorship of leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani. While admitting that he still maintains warm personal friendships within the saffron party, he dismissed any speculation about changing his political stripes. Clarifying his recent social media post praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he attributed it purely to sportsman spirit and personal regard.