Have emotional connect with Suvendu: Mohua Moitra's praise for CM fuels buzz
'Tis the season of defections in Bengal. At a time when the Trinamool Congress has been unravelling like a pack of cards after losing the
'Tis the season of defections in Bengal. At a time when the Trinamool Congress has been unravelling like a pack of cards after losing the elections, its Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra has created a flutter with her unusual praise for Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. In an interview with the BBC, Moitra, seen as a staunch Mamata Banerjee loyalist, said she shared an "emotional connection" with Adhikari, despite their different political paths. Read Full Story The remarks by Moitra, among Mamata's shrinking band of loyalists in the TMC's parliamentary wing, have stirred fresh speculation in Bengal's political circles. Mamata is already battling for control of the TMC with the rebel camp of MLAs led by Ritabrata Banerjee. In Parliament, the TMC has been dealt a severe blow after 20 Lok Sabha MPs merged with the obscure Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) to back the ruling BJP.
My interview with @BBCHindi on developments in Bengal. Do listen in pic.twitter.com/MtjEREmJ3A— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) June 23, 2026 'SUVENDU SUPPORTED ME A LOT' Against this backdrop, the timing of Moitra's praise for Adhikari has raised eyebrows. She also shared this excerpt from her interview on X. "At a personal level, I have had a very good relationship with Suvendu Adhikari. When we were in the TMC together, he supported me a lot," Moitra said. She then went on to recall how Suvendu supported her during a difficult phase in her political career. Moitra said she was upset when she was denied a Lok Sabha ticket in the 2014 polls. "In 2014, I was supposed to get a Lok Sabha ticket, but I did not get it. I cried the whole night.
At that time, Suvendu was there to reassure me," the Krishnanagar MP said. The fiery TMC leader started her electoral journey from Karimpur, which she won in the 2016 Bengal Assembly polls. Then, a political greenhorn, Moitra said no senior TMC leader campaigned for her. However, Adhikari was there at her first rally. "When I first contested from Karimpur, no one came to campaign for me. The first rally was done by Suvendu Adhikari. Even today, you can see the pictures - Suvendu and I were the only ones there," Moitra said. Adhikari left the Trinamool in 2020 amid differences with Mamata Banerjee and the growing influence of the young guard under her nephew Abhishek. He later joined the BJP, leading it to a decisive win in this year's Bengal polls.
Moitra admitted that they no longer speak frequently, but insisted that personal relationships transcend party lines. "Suvendu has moved to another party today, so we do not talk anymore. But I cannot forget the help he gave me," Moitra said. The remarks come at a time when Mamata has been struggling big time to keep her flock together. Moitra was included by Mamata in the national working committee of the party. The rebel MLAs, on the other hand, replaced Mamata as TMC chairperson and stripped Abhishek of his post as national general secretary. They also approached the Election Commission (EC) to stake a claim to the party name and symbol. Ends
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