KOLKATA: TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh on Saturday attended an Independence Day programme held by a rebel faction of the party, triggering fresh speculation about his political position.The event was organised by the faction led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee. Ghosh, however, said he attended the programme by chance and that there was no political motive behind his visit.Ghosh had earlier hoisted the national flag at the TMC headquarters in Topsia on the instructions of party chief Mamata Banerjee. He later stopped at the rebel faction’s office along the Metropolitan Bypass, where he saluted the flag and paid floral tributes to freedom fighters.His sudden arrival surprised members of the “rebel but majority” faction who were attending the programme.Explaining his presence, Ghosh said he was passing through the area when he noticed the event.“I was returning via the road adjacent to the Metropolitan Building,” Ghosh said while clarifying his presence at the second venue. “I saw flags being hoisted in the name of my party, and many known people were present. I got out of the car and joined the event. It is a Trinamool Congress office within my Beleghata assembly constituency, so there is nothing to speculate about,” he said.Chandrima Bhattacharya, a former West Bengal minister of state for finance (independent charge) and a prominent member of the rebel faction, welcomed Ghosh’s participation.“We believe in democracy. Even if a passerby came and wanted to join us, we would have welcomed him or her. Kunal was passing by. He came and paid floral tributes. This is nothing unusual,” Bhattacharya said.Ghosh’s appearance at the rebel event comes amid an ongoing internal revolt in the TMC following its poor performance in the April-May Assembly elections. The rival factions continue to stake competing claims over the party organisation, adding to speculation about the party’s internal equations.
