This story is from February 25, 2021

Maidan-Tollywood celebs join rough and tumble of Bengal politics ahead of polls

Prominent faces from Kolkata’s film and sports fraternities formally joined Trinamool Congress in the presence of Mamata Banerjee at a meeting in Dunlop on Wednesday.
Maidan-Tollywood celebs join rough and tumble of Bengal politics ahead of polls
A host of celebrities from Kolkata’s film and sports fraternities joins Trinamool in presence of chief minister Mamata Banerjee at a meeting in Dunlop on Wednesday
KOLKATA: Prominent faces from Kolkata’s film and sports fraternities formally joined Trinamool Congress in the presence of Mamata Banerjee at a meeting in Dunlop on Wednesday.
The new names include cricketer Manoj Tiwary, director Raj Chakrabarty, actor-director Sudeshna Roy, actors June Maliah, Kanchan Mallick, Saayoni Ghosh and Manali Dey. Ananya Chakraborti, the chairperson of West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR), also joined the party.
“I have to look beyond the game.
BJP wanted me to join them but I picked Trinamool as I have an ideological difference with BJP. I am a very secular person,” said Tiwary, adding that he had been inspired by Banerjee in his decision to foray into politics.
To join or not to join was the question that had been going on in director Chakraborty’s mind for some time now. “In 2016, I had attended 76 meetings to campaign for Trinamool. I have been a blind fan of Didi and want her to do a hattrick as the chief minister of Bengal. I knew I would someday join politics but the process got expedited because of the turncoats,” said the chairman of the 26th Kolkata International Film Festival.
“I will always speak out against any wrong. That is irrespective of my political leanings. I am comparatively brave and still don’t regret my protest as an actor when ‘Bhobishyoter Bhoot’ had problems with screening. But I have never been a Left party member. There is no reason I will overlook all the good work done by Mamata Banerjee. When I was trolled by BJP supporters, she stood by me,” Ghosh said.
According to Chakraborti, the WBCPCR has always been “neutral”. “But there comes a point in history when one has to take a position. This is the moment because Bengal is the last bastion and we have to defend it from the BJP,” she said.
Countering allegations of a few celeb turncoats who claimed to have switched sides because of being unable to work, Roy said, “Ananya and I have seen that this government has always been there to facilitate work. This government has given us stability and worked for development,” she said. According to her, a party like BJP engages in “divisive politics”. “If BJP comes to power, my voice will be silenced. They have sold the country. They are not interested in development and are only keen on peddling lies,” she added. Given an offer, Roy is keen to contest the polls too.
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About the Author
Priyanka Dasgupta

Priyanka Dasgupta is the features editor of TOI Kolkata. She has over 20 years of experience in covering entertainment, art and culture. She describes herself as sensitive yet hard-hitting, objective yet passionate. Her hobbies include watching cinema, listening to music, travelling, archiving and gardening.

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