Former Trinamul Congress secretary general and five-time MLA from Behala West, Partha Chatterjee, has made it clear that he is not ready to quit politics. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, shortly after being released from prison, Chatterjee asserted that he remains a political worker at heart and intends to continue his political journey despite the controversies surrounding him.
The veteran leader, arrested in connection with the West Bengal teachers’ recruitment scam, has been accused by central investigating agencies of being one of the key masterminds of the alleged corruption. The arrest and subsequent investigations had led to his suspension from all party posts and from the Trinamul Congress itself. Yet, nearly three-and-a-half years later, Chatterjee’s first public remarks after his release have made it evident that he is far from politically retired.
“I am a political worker and will remain one,” he said. “The people of Behala West have reposed their faith in me five times. They must have many questions now, and it is my duty to answer them. If needed, I will take an auto and visit every household in Behala to explain myself. I want to tell them that I have always stayed on the honest path.” In a letter addressed to the residents of his constituency, Chatterjee sought to clarify his stand. He asked whether anyone could point out a single instance of him taking money in exchange for jobs and questioned if others might have used his name to extort money. “Let me know if anyone has ever paid me anything in return for employment. If someone has taken money using my name, I deserve to know who they are,” the letter reads. Chatterjee’s tone was both defensive and defiant.
While dismissing all charges against him, he indicated a strong desire to re-engage with the public. Political observers view his statements as a clear signal that the former minister wants to reclaim his lost political ground and possibly prepare for an electoral comeback, though he stopped short of declaring any intention to contest the next Assembly election. Reflecting on his long political career, Chatterjee also recalled his association with former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and former Assembly Speaker Hashim Abdul Halim, whom he described as his “mentor”.
For a man, who once held several key portfolios in the Mamata Banerjee government, and was regarded as one of the party’s most trusted organisational leaders, Chatterjee’s public reappearance marks a significant development in Bengal’s political landscape. Whether his attempt to reconnect with the people of Behala West will help him regain lost credibility remains to be seen.