Kolkata, July 30 : A section of Trinamool Congress leaders have come out in support of former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, after party MP Kunal Ghosh's recent remarks about him sparked a controversy.
Ghosh had said that Bhattacharjee was "finished" in politics and that he had "lost his spine". His comments were widely criticized by TMC leaders, including MLA Madan Mitra, who said that Bhattacharjee was a "model" for the current generation of politicians.
"Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has a spine and he has not sold it. He is a model for the current generation of politicians," Mitra said.
TMC MP Satadip Roy also came out in support of Bhattacharjee, saying that he was a "great leader" who had made significant contributions to the state.
"Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is a great leader who has made significant contributions to the state. He is a man of principles and he will always be respected," Roy said.
The controversy over Bhattacharjee's remarks comes at a time when the TMC is facing increasing criticism for its handling of the state's economy and law and order situation.
Bhattacharjee, who was the Chief Minister of West Bengal from 2000 to 2011, is currently 79 years old and has been unwell for some time. He was admitted to hospital in July 2023 with a respiratory infection.
The current TMC leadership has been accused of sidelining Bhattacharjee and his supporters. However, the party has denied these allegations, saying that Bhattacharjee is still a respected leader within the party.
The controversy over Bhattacharjee's remarks is likely to further divide the TMC leadership. It remains to be seen how the party will handle the situation in the coming days.
