Saugata in Mamata line of fire for imposing ‘his views as that of TMC’

“I tell this to everyone don’t try to impose your personal views on the party. You have to remember that our existence lies with this party,” she added while addressing the meeting where all the state ministers, party MPs, MLAs, leaders of frontal organisations and elected members of different levels were present.
Lashing out against the recent factional feuds at Nanoor in Birbhum district, she said TMC is not the place for those who are thinking of increasing their own influence by compromising the party’s interest. “They are free to go wherever they want to. In TMC, you don’t need to lobby to get noticed. TMC is a party where tickets are not sold, it is the party leadership that decides who will get ticket,” she said.

“Not everyone can be given a ticket to contest the election. In the interest of the party, sometimes we have to exclude some hardworking persons but that should be taken in the right spirit. If a person is denied a ticket, it doesn’t mean he should gather another few and start a demonstration. Others would be used in other fields within the party,” she added.

The TMC chief also said those who have just joined the party should not think of becoming MLAs or MPs within a few days. “I had come through student and youth politics. I had joined politics in mid seventies and contested Lok Sabha election in 1984 from Jadavpur constituency as many were unwilling to contest that seat then. Then I fought for 30 years,” Mamata said.

She also instructed to party workers not to indulge in violence. “If the Election Commission comes out with a notification which you don’t like, it doesn’t mean you will have to retaliate. Party will take it up according to the norms. There should be no clash with other parties as well. Your motto is ‘thanda thanda cool cool, abar jitbe Trinamool’ (Keep your cool, Trinamool will emerge victorious again),” she added.

Mamata also came to the defence of the youth brigade and said college students sometimes do things that they should not but one must remember that “they are young and prone to such behaviour”. She also slammed the media for “blowing up every small incident” and linking almost every incident to the ruling party. However, she cautioned the students that they should respect their teachers at colleges and Universities.