Satyabrata Mukherjee, Mithun Chakraborty, Usha Uthup get Padma Bhushan

TMC criticises honour to Mithun, who switched over to BJP from TMC

From left to right: Mithun Chakraborty, Usha Uthup Satyabrata Mukherjee. (Express Photo)

Former West Bengal BJP president Satyabrata Mukherjee (posthumously), actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty and singer Usha Uthup have been honoured with Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in the country.

Mukherjee was minister of state for Chemicals and Fertilisers and Commerce and Industries in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government at the Centre from 1999 to 2004. Mukherjee was elected to the Lok Sabha from Krishnanagar, West Bengal, on a BJP ticket in the 1999 elections. He also worked as the Additional Solicitor General of India. He died in March 2023 at the age of 91.

Mithun Chakraborty started his film journey with Mrinal Sen’s ‘Mrigaya’ and got the national award for best actor for it. He got two more national awards – best actor in 1993 for ‘Tahader Katha’ and best supporting actor for ‘Swami Vivekananda’ in 1996.

Story continues below this ad

After Mamata Banerjee became West Bengal Chief Minister, Mithun Chakraborty became a Rajya Sabha member of the TMC. However, Chakraborty stayed away from politics allegedly after he was summoned by the CBI in the chit-fund corruption case. Before the 2021 assembly election, he campaigned for the BJP. Even after the BJP’s defeat in the assembly election, he continued as one of the star campaigners of the party in West Bengal.

BJP state president Sukanta Majumder wrote on X: “Congratulations to Shri Mithun Chakraborty on being honoured with the prestigious Padma Bhushan award in 2024! Your contribution to the Indian film industry has been truly exceptional and inspiring. Wishing you continued success and many more accolades in the future. #PadmaBhushan.”

TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh alleged that Chakraborty got the “reward” for his BJP link.

“(He) did not get Padma Bhushan in recognition of acting. That he would have got anytime after 2014. This is basically a reward for being dishonest and tarnishing the image of TMC. The reward for switching the party, unwrapping gratitude, and for hired nautanki.”

Story continues below this ad

Pop singer from Bengal (she was born in Mumbai), Usha Uthup started her career as a nightclub singer. Uthup sang for many Bollywood and other language films. She also acted in a few movies.

Speaking on the occasion, Uthup credited her achievement to the unwavering support of her fans and well-wishers who have stood by her through the 54-year musical odyssey. She expressed her gratitude towards god, the government, and her loyal supporters. “I am grateful that they have recognised my contribution,” she said.

Atri Mitra

Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal. Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram