Kolkata, 15 July (H.S.) : In a major political setback for Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee, senior party leader and Kamarhati MLA Madan Mitra on Wednesday joined the rebel Trinamool faction led by Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee.

The political development came a day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued summons to Mitra and members of his family in connection with the alleged municipal recruitment scam.

Mitra, regarded as one of Mamata Banerjee's long-time loyalists, had recently been appointed as the chief whip of the MLAs aligned with her faction in the West Bengal Assembly.

His exit marks another high-profile defection from the Mamata Banerjee camp following the Trinamool Congress' defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections. Several senior leaders, including Firhad Hakim, Aroop Biswas and Chandrima Bhattacharya, have already joined the rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee. The political realignment has also seen 20 Trinamool Lok Sabha MPs shift allegiance, while three Rajya Sabha members resigned and were later re-nominated to the Upper House as BJP candidates.

On Wednesday, Mitra walked into the chamber of the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and publicly announced his resignation from all positions in the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress while seated alongside Ritabrata Banerjee.

I was in the Trinamool, I remained in the Trinamool. I just went from this room to that room, Mitra told reporters, indicating that he viewed the move as a shift within the party rather than a departure from its ideology.

The veteran leader also revealed that he had sent a message to Mamata Banerjee before changing sides.

I sent her a message saying 'sorry'. She has stood by us for a long time, and we also tried to contribute in our own way, he said.

According to party sources, Ritabrata Banerjee now enjoys the support of around 65 of the 80 Trinamool MLAs in the Assembly. Mitra's defection is also expected to trigger the appointment of a new chief whip for the Mamata Banerjee-led faction.

The latest political shift further strengthens the rebel camp's position and underscores the continuing churn within the Trinamool Congress following the change of government in West Bengal.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh