Rebel TMC MPs may defect to Congress after Diwali: Minister

'Nearly 8-10 TMC MPs under leadership of Somen Mitra approached Congress and held talks'

Union Minister of state for Health and Family Welfare Abu Hasem Khan Chowdhury today claimed that rebel Trinamool Congress MPs had approached the Congress for talks and could defect to the party in November.

Nearly eight to ten disgruntled TMC MPs under the leadership of senior MP, Somen Mitra,had approached the Congress and held talks, the minister said.

"The good news may come after Diwali in November. Many were unhappy over the autocratic style of functioning of the party and may defect and join the Congress", Khan Chowdhury told reporters at a press meet.

He said many MPs, who had earlier left the Congress to join the TMC, regretted that they had misunderstood the Congress leadership and had defected. Many of them were wanting to return to the parent party, the minister claimed.

He said there was no democratic functioning within the TMC. Those who wanted to speak their mind were under attack as the party could not rise above narrow politics and did not believe in people to people relations.

"It was this attitude which had stirred a revolt within the TMC. There was no place for conscience and reasoning. The party Supremo was acting on the advice of a coterie which was why many MPs were disillusioned", the minister said referring to the virtual banner of revolt raised against the party leadership by three party MPs at a function organised by dissenting TMC mla Shikha Mitra on September 20.

The three dissenting MPs were TMc's Rajya sabha member Kunal Ghosh, whose name had figured in the recent Saradha chitfund controversy and former actors Tapas Paul and Satabdi Roy.

Referring to the serving of a non-bailable arrest warrant by a local court against Union Minister of state for Railways Adhir Chowdhury, in connection with the murder of a TMC worker, Khan Chowdhury said it smacked of political vendetta.