Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic rally in Kolkata has set the tone for the West Bengal Assembly elections as the state prepares for a saffron tsunami. PM Modi was joined by Actor Mithun Chakraborty on the stage as he officially joined the BJP in his presence. The former TMC leader was made a villain by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Chakraborty is now out to take vengeance for the attempts made in the past to tarnish his legacy.
Mithun Chakraborty who during the peak of his career was at par with the likes of Amitabh Bachchan has now joined the BJP which is yet another indication of which way the political winds in the state are blowing. Chakraborty has had a chequered political career from being associated with the CPM in the ’80s, the actor was then made a Rajya Sabha MP by the Trinamool Congress in 2014 and has now switched over to the BJP.
Mithun Chakraborty is not a star of today. He is a star of yesteryears. He has changed parties four times. He was originally a Naxalite, then went to CPM, then he joined TMC & was made a Rajya Sabha MP: TMC MP Saugata Roy (1/2) https://t.co/KEY5R94sbS pic.twitter.com/UMDivXhnGE
— ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2021
While Mithun’s political affiliations have kept on changing, his zeal to work for the poor has remained constant with the actor endearing himself into the hearts of Bengalis through his philanthropic work in the state. His entry into the BJP and his subsequent decision to hit the campaign trail from March 12 will ensure a landslide victory for the party.
The feud between Mithun and Mamata goes a long way. As the Saradha Chit Fund Scam which has been touted by many as one of the biggest scams to ever take place in India threatens to sink the TMC, Mithun did well to protect his image from being tarnished when the scam broke out. Mithun was made the brand ambassador for Saradha and once the scam was out with the Enforcement Directorate launching an investigation, the yesteryear actor returned the entire amount which he received from the company.
During the course of the investigation, the actor told ED that he, “actually acted in promotional videos and advertisements that were broadcast on television shows” made by the Saradha group and this was done as per his contract.
Mithun had received a sum of Rs 2 crore from Saradha business portals perhaps for his services as the brand ambassador of the company. The actor, in a bid to salvage his image and legacy, returned a sum of Rs 1.19 crore (after tax) to the ED as he repeatedly stated that his association with the company was purely on a professional basis and he had no intention of cheating or duping anyone.
A plethora of TMC leaders are in the book over their role in the chit fund scam with the CBI reportedly is also pointing at the alleged role of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in the scam. Mithun who resigned from the Rajya Sabha shortly after the scam broke out, would have perhaps been incensed with Banerjee as he unwittingly became the brand ambassador of a chit fund scam and thereby a villain in a state so dear to him. Hence, Mithun has joined the BJP in his vengeance against Mamata and TMC for the attempts to tarnish his legacy.
As the legendary actor thundered yesterday, “I am not a harmless snake, but a cobra, will turn you into a photograph with one bite,” Mamata’s problems seem to just have increased manifold.