Manipur’s Divide
The ethnic tensions in Manipur between the Kuki-Zo tribes and the Meitei community have brought the state's governance under intense scrutiny.
Two-time Rajya Sabha MP and editor of The Pioneer, Chandan Mitra, has reportedly quit the BJP and reports suggest that he, most likely, will join Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress on Saturday.
Experts feel that if Mitra joins the TMC, it will give a shot in the arm to Mamata Banerjee’s party ahead of the crucial general elections.
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As per reports, Mitra has submitted his resignation but there was no confirmation whether or not it has been accepted by BJP chief Amit Shah.
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There were murmurs that Mitra, who was considered close to BJP veteran LK Advani, may leave the party as he was being sidelined under the Modi-Shah leadership.
Mitra was nominated to the Rajya Sabha twice — in 2003 and 2016.
In 2014, Mitra contested from the Hooghly Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal on a BJP ticket, but he lost to a Trinamool Congress candidate.
As per a report on ndtv.com, Chandan Mitra’s may join the Trinamool Congress at a rally in Kolkata on Saturday. Mamata Banerjee will address the rally this Saturday to mark Martyr’s Day — to commemorate the 1993 Kolkata firing — outside Victoria House in the heart of Kolkata.
While Mitra was a prominent face of the BJP in Delhi circles and represented the party at various forums, he did not shy away from criticising the party when he deemed fit. He was trolled on Twitter by Modi supporters after he termed BJP’s online warriors as “those with nothing better to do”.
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