Mahua Moitra, expelled from the Lok Sabha three months ago, has been fielded again by Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress in what is seen as a message of defiance against the BJP. Trinamool fielded her from Bengal's Krishnanagar – the very seat she represented – while thumbing her nose at critics who had predicted an end to her political career after the alleged money-for-questions issue.
Ms Moitra was one of 42 candidates the party unilaterally announced today, underscoring its break with the opposition bloc INDIA.
The Trinamool, which was initially lukewarm about supporting Mahua Moitra over the alleged money-for-questions issue, had backed her to the hilt after the matter snowballed and she was expelled from the Lok Sabha after a hearing by an ethics committee.
Party chief and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had expressed shock and called it “murder of democracy”.
“She (Mahua Moitra) was not even allowed to speak her side. She wasn't even allowed to speak in self-defense. They didn't allow her to explain her side. This is a murder of democracy. This is injustice,” Ms Banerjee had said.
At that time, she had also congratulated the INDIA alliance for taking a strong stand on the issue. “We fought unitedly. They have stood with the Mahua and Trinamool Congress against this. Together we will fight against the BJP,” she had said.
When Mahua Moitra had walked out of the Ethics Commission's questioning session, claiming that she had been subjected to “dirty questions”, opposition MPs who were members of the committee had walked out with her.
However, that bonhomie with the opposition is a thing of the past, as today's Trinamool list underlines.
The party has named candidates from all 42 Lok Sabha seats of Bengal – without even the usual courtesy of setting aside two seats for Congress. Since coming to power in 2011, Trinamool has never fielded candidates from Berhampore, Adhir Choudhury's seat and one in Malda.
The seat-sharing talks failed this time, with Congress demanding seven seats and Trinamool willing to offer only two. Mamata Banerjee suspended her INDIA membership and said she would re-evaluate the situation after the elections.