Somen Mitra set to join Congress

TMC in a jittery over how many would follow

The Somen Vs Mamata tussle over the youth Congress leadership in the late 90's  leading to Mamata Banerjee's departure and formation of Trinamool Congress in 1998, is set to be replayed again.

After four years' truce, it's now Somen Mitra's turn to quit TMC to make a return to Congress, which may happen as early as by the end of the month.

While for the TMC leadership Somen's departure was inevitable following public criticism of party functioning, Mamata Banerjee's party seems to be jittery, as it grapples with the question how many would follow Mitra, who besides having his own mass-following especially in north Kolkata, is known to be veteran player in Bengal politics.

"Yes, I have now made up my mind to return to Congress. I cannot say exactly when, but certainly before the Lok Sabha election," Mitra, currently a TMC MP from South 24 Paragana's Diamond Harbour constituency, told Business Standard. In an interview to Business Standard last week, he had said that he was "not ruling out" the possibility of the joining back Congress again.

While Somen Mitra's wife, Sikha Mitra, who is also a TMC MLA from North Kolkata's Sealdah, is certain to join Congress along with her husband, TMC seems to be working overtime to minimise the damage.

"Many may have shared the dais with Mitra to speak against the party, but I am sure they will realise they have no political future without TMC and Mamata Banerjee," a senior TMC MP said, making an oblique reference to party MPs like Kunal Ghosh, Shatabdi Roy and Tapas Pal.

TMC sources claimed Satabdi Roy and Tapas Pal -- two Tollywood faces who won TMC ticket in the last Lok Sabha election have been persuaded not to quit the party. This was evident from Somen Mitra's conversation.

"Satabdi Roy and Tapas Pal, I am told, have already apologised to Mamata for so-called anti-party activities. May be some are waiting for more insult from the TMC to quit the party," Mitra said.

However, when asked about journalist-turned TMC Rajya Sabha MP Kunal Ghosh, Mitra said, "I speak to Kunal often over the phone. I cannot say what he will do. I am not asking anyone to join me to quit TMC to join Congress. Let everyone take decisions for themselves."

Recently, Ghosh had hit out at the  party leadership at a public function  in the presence of somen Mitra for being abandoned in the Saradha case and demanded a CBI probe into the matter, something which has been consistently opposed by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.  Shatabdi Roy and Tapas Pal too have been seen criticising party affairs while sharing stage with Mitra recently.

Mitra, meanwhile, understood to be in touch with Congress High Command to decide the timing on his return. Sources suggest, Mitra may even contest the Lok Sabha election from North Kolkata constituency in 2014.  

"We always welcome if someone like Somen Mitra's stature decides to make a homecoming. All who had left congress to join Tmc should their mistake. I believe, many more will come and join us," West Bengal Pradesh Congress leader Manas Bhuinya said.

The seventy-year old Somen Mitra, a former state Congress president, was Congress MLA from 1972-2006 from North Kolkata's sealdah constituency, which is now represented by his wife.  In the late 90's it was Somen Mitra and Mamata Banerjee who were the most prominent faces of state Congress. In fact, it was the difference between the two, which was perceived to be the the main reason for the present West Bengal chief minister launching the TMC in 1998.

However, following differences with the Congress state leadership and high command, he had quit the Congress in 2008 to form his own party Indira National Congress, which was later merged with the TMC in 2009.