NEW DELHI: Days after exiting the Trinamool Congress, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray on Monday made explosive claims about the Mamata Banerjee-led party and her previous government in West Bengal. The former TMC leader likened his former party to a “party of thieves, rapists” and made the startling claim that he could have been “murdered by contract killers” had he quit during the RG Kar hospital row.His remarks come at a time when the Mamata Banerjee-led party, after ruling West Bengal for 15 years, is grappling with a crushing electoral defeat and a growing rebellion within its ranks, both in the assembly and Parliament.Speaking to news agency PTI, Ray said, “A party of thieves, rapists… RG Kar incident helped me make up my mind. Had I quit then, could have been murdered by contract killers.”Recalling the RG Kar episode, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray said, “When the RG Kar incident happened, people came out onto the streets. I had never seen anything like this in my political career, and I spoke up about it. I said that everyone involved should be hanged, I also put out a tweet and sat on a protest… I was summoned for my tweet.”The Mamata Banerjee-led party is facing its biggest rupture since its founding in 1998, with a sizeable faction openly rebelling against the leadership. As the internal revolt deepens, the Trinamool Congress appears headed for a major split, with the breakaway camp showing signs of moving closer to the ruling NDA.