A fresh storm has erupted within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) after party MP Kalyan Banerjee launched a scathing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the party's national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday, exposing growing fissures within the ruling party.
Kalyan Banerjee, a senior TMC leader and Member of Parliament, expressed strong displeasure after being removed as legal counsel for Abhishek Banerjee in the ongoing alleged signature forgery case. The veteran parliamentarian described the decision as a humiliating and insulting move, claiming that he was dropped at the last moment despite being prepared to represent the party leader in court.
Escalating the confrontation, Kalyan Banerjee issued a direct ultimatum to TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, urging her to choose between senior party loyalists and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee.
“Choose us or Abhishek,” Kalyan Banerjee said, signalling a widening divide within the party leadership and raising questions about internal cohesion in the Trinamool Congress.
The remarks assume significance as Kalyan Banerjee has largely remained loyal to Mamata Banerjee at a time when several leaders and lawmakers have reportedly distanced themselves from her camp in recent days. His public criticism is being viewed as one of the strongest indications yet of simmering discontent among sections of the party's senior leadership.
The controversy stems from proceedings before the Calcutta High Court in the alleged signature forgery case involving Abhishek Banerjee. During the hearing, the court granted interim protection from arrest to the TMC national general secretary and directed him to appear before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) by 6 pm on the same day.
Abhishek Banerjee, who is currently in Delhi, has been asked to cooperate with the investigation as the probe continues. The court's order provided temporary relief while allowing investigators to proceed with questioning in connection with the case.
The latest developments come at a politically sensitive time for the Trinamool Congress, which has witnessed a series of internal challenges and public disagreements in recent weeks. Kalyan Banerjee's sharp remarks have intensified speculation about growing tensions between different factions within the party and could have significant implications for its internal dynamics in the coming days.
With the leadership yet to officially respond to the allegations, political observers will be closely watching whether the dispute remains a personal disagreement or develops into a broader challenge to the party's hierarchy.
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