Former West Bengal minister and suspended senior Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chatterjee said on Wednesday that if Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee looks at things justly, she will take the right decision on his suspension from the party.
Speaking to mediapersons at his Naktala residence in Kolkata, Chatterjee, who walked out from jail on Tuesday a day after being granted bail in the school jobs scam case, said he was still committed to his people and would reach out to the constituents of Behala West which he represents in the state Assembly.
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“I was in jail for nearly three-and-a-half years, but I never made any comment against my party. At times I thought of saying something, but never uttered a word. Those who thought that I would collapse underestimated me.”
On his suspension from the TMC, Chatterjee said he came to know about the party’s decision when in jail. “During my days in jail, I was in touch with some party workers and functionaries. I am innocent and never used the party flag for money. If (Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee looks at things justly, she will take the right decision (on his suspension).”
He added, “But I did not receive any (suspension) letter. I was in ED custody when officers informed me that I had been suspended and was removed as a minister. Then I stayed quiet. The party leadership did what it deemed correct at the time. But I have worked for the development of Behala West. I will go to the people as I am committed to them. They never raised any questions on my integrity.”
The former minister said, “Many are saying that the party is not with me but I want to say I was and am always with the party. For now, my main objective is to take care of my health and then I will reach out to the people of Behala West.
On his associate Arpita Mukherjee, who was arrested in connection with the case after a huge cache of cash was recovered from her residence, the TMC veteran said, “If people can have two wives, why cannot I have a girlfriend.”
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On the cache of money recovered from Arpita’s residence during the investigation into alleged corruption in the school staff recruitment, he said, “The money was recovered from her house. Only she will be able to say anything on this.”
Tanusree Bose is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Kolkata. Her work focuses sharply on the complex administrative, political, and judicial developments across West Bengal, establishing her as an authoritative voice in regional news coverage.
Experience
Current Role: Reports for the prestigious national daily, The Indian Express, providing her content with a high level of Trustworthiness.
Geographical Expertise: Provides focused, in-depth coverage of West Bengal, demonstrating an intimate knowledge of the state's news and political nuances.
Core Authority: Her reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial, often sensitive, beats, including:
State Politics and Governance: Covering the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), opposition strategies (BJP), and internal political controversies.
Judicial and Administrative Affairs: Closely monitoring key developments in the Calcutta High Court, particularly major rulings related to employment, education, and social issues.
Education Sector: Extensive reporting on significant controversies, such as teacher recruitment irregularities and administrative actions by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE).
Social & Electoral Issues: Covering public events, community tensions (e.g., religious/political gatherings), and election-related processes like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll.
Tanusree Bose's consistent output and focus on high-stakes regional issues for a trusted media outlet underscore her status as a reliable and authoritative source for news from West Bengal. ... Read More
