LUCKNOW: Former UP Congress MLC Rajesh Pati Tripathi and his son Lalitesh Pati Tripathi, a former Congress MLA, joined the Trinamool Congress in presence of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Siliguri on Monday. They are kin of former UP CM Kamalapati Tripathi.
The joining is being seen as a boost for TMC that has been a fringe player in UP politics till now and also since the Tripathi father-son duo hail from Purvanchal and could sway some Brahmin votes.
TMC insiders said Tripathi was called to join at an event in Siliguri as Mamata wanted to show that prominent faces of UP politics are joining her party.
“She is likely to hold a rally in Varanasi after ‘Chhath’ and announce the joining of more big leaders from UP,” said TMC state president Neeraj Rai.
She may also announce support to Samajwadi Party in a bid to form an anti-BJP alliance for the upcoming UP elections. TMC had extended support to the ‘mahagathbandhan’ in 2019 general elections and SP had reciprocated in West Bengal elections.
Tripathi, a fourth generation Congressman, was an aide of the Gandhi family but he resigned from primary membership of Congress party in September. There were assumptions of his joining SP.
“I would like to tell Congress that you got so many years — 5, 10, 15. What have you done? You couldn’t do anything, which is why BJP has gained strength. This has prompted parties like ours to take up the challenge,” she said.
The Trinamool chief also announced that she would now take time out of her Bengal schedule to visit other states.
“Today, the leaders from UP invited me to Varanasi. I told them to make a plan after festive season ,” she said.
