Kamarhati MLA Madan Mitra, who left the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress and joined the rebel Trinamool group headed by Ritabrata Banerjee, has said he is tired of politics and is considering quitting, news agency Press Trust of India reported.
Mitra, who was once Mamata Banerjee's trusted lieutenant, expressed disillusionment with the political atmosphere in West Bengal, saying people were living in fear and distress and that this year's Durga Puja was markedly different from previous years.
Speaking to a Bengali television channel on Thursday, the four-time MLA said, “So many tears were not shed during earlier Pujas. There is a sense of sorrow and distress.”
Mitra said he was concerned about the difficulties faced by ordinary people. He added that he was unable to move around freely and reach out to voters in his constituency in North 24 Parganas district.
“Those who voted for me cannot even meet me. I am confused. I do not want to do anything that will cause trouble to people,” PTI quoted him as saying.
The veteran politician claimed that people were distressed and struggling amid the prevailing situation. He said withdrawing from active politics was among the options he was considering.
“One way is to leave politics. I am too tired. There is so much hatred in politics. I hate politics,” he said.
Mitra also referred to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's busy political schedule and said he wished to reach out to him. He conveyed his best wishes to his former leader and former chief minister Mamata Banerjee, as well as Adhikari, indicating that his disillusionment extended beyond party affiliations.
“I convey my best regards to Didi (Mamata Banerjee) and my younger brother Suvendu,” he said. “Our CM is so active and busy with so many engagements every day, but being a subject (praja), I just wish to reach out to him.”
Mitra's remarks reflected his concern over the difficulties faced by people, his inability to meet voters freely and his growing inclination to withdraw from active politics.
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