‘Mamata didi stood by me in my darkest hour, won’t abandon her now’: Shatrughan Sinha

As the Trinamool Congress (TMC) grapples with an unprecedented internal revolt, Lok Sabha MP Shatrughan Sinha has publicly reaffirmed his loyalty to party chief Mamata Banerjee, distancing himself from speculation that he had joined the rebel camp.

The Asansol MP said he remains indebted to Banerjee for backing him during a difficult phase in his political career and insisted that standing with her now is both a personal and political obligation.

Sinha recalled that after his defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha election from Patna Sahib, Banerjee was among the few leaders who extended support and later fielded him from Asansol, helping him return to Parliament.

Rejecting reports that linked him to a purported letter signed by dissident MPs, the veteran actor-politician said such claims were baseless.

He remarked that if speaking honestly is considered rebellion, then he has no problem being labelled a rebel, but made it clear that his allegiance remains firmly with the TMC leadership.

Sinha also revealed that leaders from other parties, including the BJP, had approached him, but he had no intention of switching sides.
While acknowledging that several of his friends have joined the anti-Mamata faction, he stressed that he would continue to stand with Banerjee during the party's current crisis.

His statement comes as a significant boost for the embattled TMC chief, who is battling dissent across multiple fronts.

The party has already witnessed a string of resignations in the Rajya Sabha, while a large section of its Lok Sabha MPs has openly challenged the leadership.

The unrest has also spilled into the West Bengal Assembly, deepening concerns of a possible split within the party.

With rebellion growing across organisational levels, Banerjee faces one of the toughest political challenges of her career, even as loyalists like Sinha attempt to rally support around her leadership.