Congress Still Pays Price for Expelling Mamata Banerjee, Says Pradip Bhattacharya

Kolkata, 7th January 2025: Veteran Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya stated on Monday that the party is still suffering the consequences of expelling Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief.

In a press statement, Bhattacharya recalled how Congress state president Somen Mitra had expelled Banerjee in 1997 under the direction of party chief Sitaram Kesri, due to Banerjee’s criticism of the party’s stance. Bhattacharya mentioned that he had advised against the decision, but the pressure from the high command was overwhelming.

Mamata Banerjee was expelled from Congress on January 21, 1997, under Sitaram Kesri’s leadership. A year later, she founded the Trinamool Congress on January 1, 1998.

“Why did Congress splinter in Bengal? I remember the day Mamata Banerjee was expelled. Somen Mitra called me and said Sitaram Kesri insisted Mamata must be expelled. He told Somen, ‘You must do this because we have decided.’ I urged Somen not to proceed, but the pressure was too strong. Congress is still facing the repercussions,” Bhattacharya shared.

Since Banerjee’s departure, Congress has experienced a significant decline in West Bengal. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the party secured only one seat. Even prominent leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury lost his seat in Baharampur to TMC’s Yusuf Pathan, ending a five-term run.