Kolkata: TMC’s turmoil spilled into the open as MP Mahua Moitra launched a blistering attack on colleague Yusuf Pathan, turning up the heat on rumours of defections and putting party unity under intense scrutiny.
Moitra accused Pathan of dashing to Delhi after a call from Union Home Minister Amit Shah and told him to “have some courage.” In her post on X she wrote, “And @iamyusufpathan you are rushing to Delhi because @AmitShah has called you? Have some courage. You played for India. Our district voted you in with a huge margin. Have some shame & some spine.”
Her blast followed reports that at least 20 TMC MPs had written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla offering support to the NDA, and that a group of rebel MPs had met in Delhi — developments that have fuelled talk of a party split.
Moitra also launched a blistering attack on the dissidents, saying MPs elected in 2024 carried a TMC mandate, not an NDA one, and accusing them of trying to switch sides without seeking a fresh mandate. She dared the rebels to resign and test their popularity at the ballot box.
“MPs won in 2024 on TMC ticket. Mandate was NOT for NDA. All the greedy self-serving traitors with yellow-stained pants can please join BJP now — resign your seats & contest on BJP ticket. Let’s see what big heroes you are,” she wrote.
Moitra upped the ante, daring the dissidents: “Let’s see what big heroes you are.”
Pathan has denied claims that Mamata Banerjee asked him to vacate his Berhampur seat so she could contest a by-election, calling the story “completely false” and saying no party leader asked him to step down.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly also denied contacting Pathan on Banerjee’s behalf, calling those reports untrue and urging the media not to spread unverified information.
