Nayna Bandyopadhyay Refuses to Join Husband Sudip's New Party
Kolkata: While North Kolkata MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay has joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), his wife Nayna Bandyopadhyay, a five-time MLA, stated on Monday that she will remain with Mamata Banerjee until her last breath.
Speaking to TOI, Nayna said, "Sudip couldn't convince me. He has left (Trinamool), that's his business. He did not listen to me. I can't take responsibility for him." She added, "I have referred to Mamata Banerjee as 'Maa Durga'. I will stay with Maa Durga till my last breath. I am firm in my decision. I have told Didi I am not going anywhere. If Didi turns me away, I will wander the streets like an orphan."
Sudip had told reporters in Delhi on Sunday that he had not managed to convince his wife to join NCPI. "I have not been able to convince my wife yet. While Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay remains Trinamool's leader in the assembly, she (Nayna) continues to be the deputy leader," he said. "I tried to convince her, then she tried to convince me. Eventually, a consensus was reached — to each their own." Sudip cited examples of Saugata Roy (Trinamool) and Tathagata Roy (BJP) as instances of family members on opposing political sides, noting that many such examples exist in Kerala.
This is not the first time the couple has faced such a political choice. Around two decades ago, Sudip fell out with Mamata Banerjee and contested the 2004 Lok Sabha elections as an independent, later aligning with Congress. At that time, Nayna stood by her husband, leading to her suspension from Trinamool in 2004, though she completed her MLA term until 2006. Sudip later returned to Trinamool.
When Sudip joined the rebel camp this time, Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh remarked, "This is great marketing by BJP — buy one get one free. You don't just get a man wearing a wig, you also get a moving beauty parlour with him." The comment drew a sharp reaction from Nayna on Monday. She said, "I have informed Didi. I have objections to this kind of language. He is insulting a woman. Kunalbabu will not dictate what my stand will be. Forget that I am an MLA, forget the party. First of all, I am a woman. How can he make such derogatory remarks against a woman? He should learn to respect women."
Ghosh responded, "Nayna is my sister-in-law. We had taken an oath to not abandon Didi. Let's see if she continues to be by Didi's side. Her husband has left — he is an expert at switching parties. I hope she continues here."
