Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra has triggered fresh political speculation after recalling the support she received from West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari during the early days of her political career.
In an interview with BBC, excerpts of which she also shared on social media platform X, Moitra said she continues to have an “emotional connection” with Adhikari despite the two now belonging to rival political parties. Her remarks come at a time when West Bengal’s political landscape has been witnessing major realignments and defections.
"At a personal level, I have had a very good relationship with Suvendu Adhikari. When we were in the TMC together, he supported me a lot," Moitra said.
Speaking about her political journey, Moitra recalled that she had expected a Lok Sabha ticket in 2014 but was left disappointed after not being selected. “I cried the whole night. Suvendu was there to reassure me,” she said, adding that Adhikari stood by her during that difficult phase.
The Krishnanagar MP also said that when she contested the 2016 West Bengal Assembly election from Karimpur, very few senior TMC leaders campaigned for her. According to Moitra, Suvendu Adhikari attended and addressed her first election rally, offering support at a crucial stage of her campaign.
Although Adhikari later left the TMC and joined the BJP in 2020, Moitra said personal relationships should be kept separate from political differences. “Today he is in another party, so we do not speak much. But I cannot forget the help he gave me,” she said.
Moitra also praised the BJP’s organisational structure while comparing it with the TMC. She said the BJP functions through a strong cadre based system and follows a clear ideological framework, whereas the TMC has often depended on individual leaders. She also remarked that Adhikari’s departure had, in some ways, helped expose internal weaknesses within the TMC.
"Mamata likes to maintain a personal equation with TMC leaders. The party's failing has been that it adjusted all leaders, even those who are rubbish and useless. Mamata should have reviewed whether these leaders could have won elections on their own," Moitra said.
At the same time, Moitra dismissed speculation that the TMC could merge with the Congress. She said there was “absolutely no truth” to such reports, even though she acknowledged that the two parties share certain ideological similarities.
Her comments have generated widespread political discussion, with many viewing them as unusual given the intense rivalry between the TMC and the BJP in West Bengal. However, Moitra did not indicate any plans to change political parties, maintaining that her remarks reflected personal gratitude rather than political alignment.
