Mamata Banerjee’s subtle message for Subhendu? “I don’t tolerate those who took so much from the party & govt for 10 years, & are now allured by other things”

West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday seemed to have a subtle message for former cabinet colleague Subhendu Adhikary, and others like him who are speculated to be preparing to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the Assembly elections of 2021.

At a public meeting in Jalpaiguri, Banerjee made her displeasure known about those who have “eaten such a lot from the party and the government for the past ten years”, but are now getting allured by other things”. She did not name anyone though, while speaking on this issue, but some party insiders read between the lines and felt it was a message for “those like Subhendu Adhikary”.

“For ten years, you have taken so much from the party and the government. Now, when there is an election ahead, you are getting lured by things beyond the party and the government. I don’t tolerate these things,” Banerjee said. She asked her partymen to fight the test ahead with her, asking them to ensure that the BJP is defeated in a way that it can’t ever fight another test. “Do not think about who means what in the party. You have interacted with people, keep going to them in the days ahead and if you have made any mistake, seek forgiveness, there is no better judge than people,” Banerjee told her party leaders, adding that there should be only one goal ahead — to hit the bull’s eye.