TMC MLA Madan Mitra hospitalised in Kolkata, condition stable
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Madan Mitra was admitted to a hospital in South Kolkata on Monday evening after falling ill, party leaders confirmed on Tuesday, 12 May. Hospital sources said the veteran legislator is currently under medical observation and his condition is stable.
Medical Condition and Hospital Update
According to hospital sources, Madan Mitra is being treated for urinary problems and is responding positively to treatment. Doctors have kept him under observation as a precautionary measure. Family members indicated that if his recovery continues on the current trajectory, he could be discharged within the next few days.
Mental Pressure After Poll Setback
Close aides of the Kamarhati MLA said that beyond the physical ailment, Mitra had reportedly been under considerable mental pressure following his party's poor showing in the West Bengal Assembly elections. While TMC suffered what observers described as an electoral debacle across the state, Mitra managed to retain his Kamarhati seat — a result that offered him some personal consolation amid the wider party reversal. His followers expressed concern after the veteran leader's sudden hospitalisation.
A Colourful Campaign Trail
Mitra had drawn considerable public attention during the recent election campaign, appearing in vibrant costumes, singing on the hustings, and at one point being seen selling jhalmuri — a signature street snack — in what became widely circulated campaign imagery. The theatrics underscored his reputation as one of TMC's most flamboyant grassroots mobilisers.
Political Career and Legal History
Madan Mitra first won from Kamarhati in 2011, when Trinamool Congress swept to power in West Bengal, ending the Left Front's 34-year rule. His career, however, was disrupted in 2014 when he was arrested in connection with the Saradha chit fund case. He spent approximately 21 months in judicial custody before securing bail in September 2016. He contested from Kamarhati in the same year but lost. TMC subsequently fielded him in the Bhatpara by-election in 2019, where he was defeated by Pawan Singh, son of Arjun Singh. He bounced back to win from Kamarhati in the 2021 Assembly elections and retained the seat again in 2026. His political resilience has made him one of the more closely watched figures in Bengal's legislative politics. How he recovers — and whether he returns to active politics swiftly — will be watched closely by both party workers and rivals.