Egra (West Bengal): It has been said that a son follows his father’s footsteps, but in this case it was just the opposite. Veteran Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP and leader Sisir Adhikari followed his son Suvendu Adhikari and joined the BJP here Sunday. It was move expected as in the last few days Sisir Adhikari had time and again said that he would do what his son would ask him to do. Sisir joined the BJP in the presence of Union Home Minister and other senior BJP leaders at an election rally here.
The patriarch of the Adhikari family said that he had to work really hard to rise through the ranks in the TMC. However, the treatment meted out to him and his sons, of late, forced him to switch camp. It should be stated here that the Adhikari family wields considerable influence in Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district –
“The way our family was driven out (of TMC) will be forever written in history. We will rise against all political attacks and atrocities in Bengal. We will work under Modiji and Amit Shahji,” the Lok Sabha MP said, chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’.
Earlier in the day, Sisir had asserted that his son Suvendu, locked in a fierce battle with Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram, will bag the seat at ease. “Suvendu will win the elections by a huge margin. The TMC will be wiped out of East Midnapore,” he stated.
Meanwhile Banerjee addressed a rally at Kanthi (erstwhile Contai) which is home to the Adhikari family. She blamed herself Sunday for not recognising the ‘true face’ of the Adhikari family.
Banerjee vented her ire against Suvendu, her protege-turned-rival. She alleged at an election rally that she had even heard rumours the Adhikari family had built an empire worth Rs 5,000 crore. The chief minister said, she will get it investigated once she is voted to power.
Most members of the Adhikari family have either joined the BJP or expressed a desire to join the saffron party.
Banerjee compared the Adhikari family with ‘Mir Jafar’ (traitor). She asserted the people of the region will not tolerate it and give befitting replies with ballots.
“I say I am a ‘big donkey’ (Ami ekta boro gadha) for having failed to recognise them. I dont know (about it), but people say their ‘empire’ is worth Rs 5,000 crore. They will use money to buy votes. But don’t vote for them,” Banerjee told the rally.
The TMC chief also described the BJP as a party of ‘rogues and goons’.
