Speculation over TMC’s Anubrata joining Ritabrata camp continues

Speculation is rife that Anubrata Mondal, alias Kesto, one of the heavyweight Trinamul Congress (TMC) leader in Birbhum for the past two decades, is poised to switch allegiance to the rebel Ritabrata Banerjee camp in a bid to avoid imminent arrest in connection with post-poll violence and cash loot cases of 2021.

Political activity in Birbhum has intensified over the past two days after the District Judge in Suri refused to grant Mondal protection in the case. Signs of shifting loyalties emerged when Santiniketan Police recently unlocked his Bolpur party office, which had been sealed by BJP supporters.

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In a significant development, Dr Ashis Banerjee, former Deputy Speaker and close aide of Mondal, reportedly held discussions with Ritabrata Banerjee at the Assembly yesterday. Shortly afterwards, an MLA contacted Mondal seeking his consent to appoint him Birbhum district president of the Ritabrata-led faction, which he accepted.

Mondal, who joined TMC from Forward Bloc, was once a trusted lieutenant of Mamata Banerjee, holding posts such as district president and chairman of the State Rural Development Agency, and enjoying Y-Plus security cover. However, his arrest by the CBI and later the ED in the cattle smuggling case, along with his daughter Sukanya Mondal, strained ties with the party leadership. Following his release, he was not reinstated as district president and was instead made convenor of the core committee.

Sources indicate that Mondal will be formally appointed Birbhum District President of the Ritabrata faction at its working committee meeting on Saturday.

His arch-rival Kajal Sheikh, MLA and zilla parishad sabhadhipati, has already joined the rebel camp and sits on its national working committee.