Kamalapati’s grandson Rajesh Pati joins TMC
KOLKATA: As the Trinamool Congress (TMC) launched its assembly election campaign in Goa on Monday afternoon, its plans to enter electoral politics in Uttar Pradesh got a boost when the central Indian state’s former chief minister Kamalapati Tripathi’s grandson Rajesh Pati Tripathi and the latter’s son, Lalitesh Pati Tripathi, joined Bengal’s ruling party in presence of chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
Elections in Goa and UP will be held next year.
Welcoming the two leaders in north Bengal’s Siliguri town, Banerjee said: “They resigned from the Congress before joining the TMC. TMC is a national party. There is no such Laxman Rekha (divine boundary) in politics.”
“We respect all small and regional parties. Akhilesh (Yadav) is like my younger brother. I am not against him. Our job is to raise issues. I waited for the Congress but sadly, they
did not respond,” said Banerjee.
“I have visited UP several times, as member of Parliament and as Union minister. For the azaadi (independence) of UP, we have welcomed members of a family that contributed to India’s fight for Independence,” said Banerjee, referring to Kamalapati Tripathi, who was a freedom fighter before serving as union minister and chief minister of UP. He died in 1990.
Known as a firebrand Congress leader in UP till he distanced himself from the grand old party last month, Lalitesh Pati Tripahti said, “People of UP have always presented alternative powers before the country. Mamata Didi sent us a message and we accepted it.”
The chief minister’s nephew and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee was present when the Tripathis switched camps.