Days after facing poll drubbing, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday appointed 6 of its MPs – 5 Lok Sabha MPs and Derek O’Brien, Rajya Sabha MP – as the official spokesperson and the designated persons to speak to the media. Party’s move came amidst allegations that many channels are inviting persons to their debates calling them as TMC supporters and sympathizers.
Apart from Derek O’Brien who is also a national spokesperson, the West Bengal ruling party designated TMC Parliamentary Party Leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Saugata Roy, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Mahua Moitra, and Dinesh Trivedi as its national spokespersons.
The party stated that the decision will come into force from June 20.
A Statement released by Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress stated, ‘It came to the notice of the party that some news channels are inviting guests to their debates and calling them as TMC Supporters or Sympathizers, Party do not subscribe to this. The party has authorized these six persons to speak to media on the behalf of the party.
Party in a statement added that ‘If the channel continues to invite any person on the debate other than designated 6 persons, then please do not refer to them as TMC Supporters or TMC Sympathizers.
It comes days after the 2019 Lok Sabha election, in which the Bharatiya Janata Party made a big dent in Mamata’s Stronghold West Bengal. The saffron party managed to give a big jolt to Mamata Banerjee‘s TMC by winning 18 seats out of total 42 Lok Sabha Seats of the state.
Bharatiya Janata Party has also improved its vote share from 17% in 2014 to over 40% in recently held national polls.
The State ruling Trinamool Congress won 22 seats down from 34 in 2014.
Mamata Banerjee-led TMC is facing intense heat within the party with many of its lawmakers, leaders joining hands of Bharatiya Janata Party after saffron party bagged big in West Bengal.
While West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC Chief, Mamata Banerjee held a meeting with party MLAs, MPs and Ministers on Monday. Banerjee, as reported by ANI, said, ‘BJP is trying to spread fake news about West Bengal. TMC will campaign from door to door. Save democracy, we don’t want EVMs, return to the ballot. There should be a fact-finding committee on EVMs’.
West Bengal Chief Minster Mamata Banerjee: BJP is trying to spread fake news about West Bengal. TMC will campaign from door to door. Save democracy, we don't want EVMs, return to ballot. There should be a fact finding committee on EVMs. pic.twitter.com/CjNIxo7lQU
— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2019
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