'Those under pressure, go wherever you want': Mamata as TMC exodus continues

NEW DELHI: Former West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Thursday reacted on the wave of ongoing exodus from Trinamool Congress following the party's crushing assembly poll defeat in May. Reacting to actor-politician Koel Mallick's resignation from the Rajya Sabha, Mamata suggested that several leaders are "under pressure" and said those unwilling to stay were free to leave."I saw one MP. I respect her. She had informed earlier through email. Today she met a BJP leader. Those who are under pressure, please take whatsoever decision you want and go wherever you want to before 21st July Shaheed Diwas," news agency ANI quoted Mamata as saying.Her remarks came shortly after Koel Mallick resigned as a Rajya Sabha member, dealing another blow to the Mamata Banerjee-led party amid a string of exits by senior leaders.Mallick's resignation added to the growing exodus of MPs and MLAs from the party."Rajya Sabha MP from TMC, Koel Mallick, met Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan and submitted her resignation," sources told ANI earlier Thursday.Mallick's resignation comes a day after TMC MLA and Mamata Banerjee's close aide Madan Mitra quit the party to join the rebel TMC faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee.On Wednesday, Mamata had also come out strongly in defence of her nephew and the party's general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, asserting that he had "done no wrong" and would remain in politics for the next 50 years. Her remarks came as the party grappled with mounting defections and an internal rebellion over Abhishek's growing influence.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.