Mamata Banerjee's message to rebels: Won't tolerate leaders who hobnob with others after benefitting for years

Banerjee at a rally in Jalpaiguri said, "The Trinamool Congress' pledge is to work for people. There is no one superior or inferior in the party. I won't tolerate leaders, who after remaining in the party and the government for 10 years, are now hobnobbing with other parties."

From Suvendu Adhikari to Mihir Goswami to the latest Jitendra Tiwari, the Trinamool is rattled by a number of dissents with barely a few months left for the high-octane assembly polls in 2021.

While Goswami has already joined the BJP, Adhikari, who has hit out at the Trinamool top brass, is reportedly set to join the saffron camp on Dec 19.

Besides giving an ultimatum to her leaders, Banerjee on Tuesday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is aiming to oust the incumbent, over the incident of attack on saffron party's national president Jagat Prakash Nadda.

"Why were there 50 cars and goons in the convoy of the VIP leader? Why were people, who had vandalised the bust of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, in the convoy," the CM said.

In response to the Centre's summoning of the state police officials over the attack, Banerjee said, "I am peaceful normally but if someone hurts me, my retaliation will be heavier than the attacks by your goons.

"They are summoning state police which is under our administration and trying to scare us."

Banerjee, who is on a three-day visit to north Bengal, will hold another rally in Cooch Behar on Wednesday.