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Abhishek Banerjee’s remarks come at a time when several TMC MLAs and MPs have left Mamata and joined NCP and the TMC Ritabrata faction, blaming him for the crisis within the party.
Several prominent Trinamool Congress MPs have emerged as part of the growing rebel camp, deepening the crisis within the party and challenging its leadership. (IMAGE: PTI)
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee has challenged party rebels who have accused him of weakening the organisation, saying he is ready to resign if they return to Mamata Banerjee’s leadership.
Addressing the rebellion within the party, Abhishek said those who had left the TMC and were now blaming him should come back to Mamata Banerjee. “Those who left the party and are now abusing or blaming me today… I challenge them to return to Didi. If they do, I will resign from the party within an hour,” he said.
He alleged that the rebels would not return because they had struck an deal with the BJP. “They have made a deal with the BJP: leave the party, join the rebel camp or the BJP, and then blame and abuse Abhishek Banerjee,” he said.
He also said that if he was the reason behind the rebellion, he would step down within 24 hours if the rebel leaders returned to Mamata Banerjee’s party.
Rebellion within TMC
Abhishek Banerjee’s remarks come at a time when several rebel TMC MLAs and MPs have left Mamata Banerjee and joined the NCP and the TMC Ritabrata faction, blaming him for the crisis within the party.
Among those reported to have left or broken away from the TMC are Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik.
A larger rebel bloc of around 19 to 20 MPs including Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Sharmila Sarkar, Prasun Banerjee, Jagadish Chandra Basunia, Arup Chakraborty, Kalipada Soren, Shatabdi Roy, June Malia, Mala Roy, Yusuf Pathan, Rachana Banerjee, Bapi Haldar, Mitali Bag, Khalilur Rahaman, Abu Taher Khan, Asit Mal, Dev Adhikari and Partha Bhowmick have merged with Tripura-based NCP and have lent their support to BJP.
Recently, Madan Mitra has resigned from TMC’s organisational posts and joined a rebel faction, though he has said he has not resigned as an MLA. He criticised Abhishek Banerjee’s leadership style, describing it as centralised and “Hitlerian”, and alleged that the party was weakening under one-person control.
Sukhendu Sekhar Ray resigned from the Rajya Sabha and the party, while Sushmita Dev stepped down from the Rajya Sabha and party posts. Prakash Chik Baraik also resigned from the Rajya Sabha. The three leaders have joined the BJP.
A separate rebel group led or represented by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar has claimed the support of around 19 MPs and said it may back the NDA.
LoP Ritabrata reacts
Reacting to Abhishek’s resignation offer, West Bengal LoP Ritabrata Banerjee said, “He said this today. What did he say yesterday? He said ‘looters’ fled out of fear of the ED and CBI, and the next day he is asking those very same looters to come back. This is a contradiction… He should have resigned on May 4th, taking responsibility for the election results… he couldn’t even go to provide a voice sample due to the fear of an egg being thrown. Such a prominent leader, yet there is no limit to his arrogance… he should resign from the party leadership and then engage in such rhetoric.”
Abhishek Banerjee party office demolition
Meanwhile, the South 24 Parganas district administration on Saturday began demolishing the party office of Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee at Amtala after it was found to have been constructed without an approved building plan and in violation of applicable rules, a senior official said.
The demolition was carried out using excavators amid heavy security, with police and central forces deployed around the site, the official added.
Abhishek Banerjee has challenged rebel TMC leaders, stating he will resign within an hour if they return to Mamata Banerjee’s leadership. He alleges these rebels are acting on the BJP’s script and have an understanding with the BJP.
About the Author
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen…Read More
Kolkata [Calcutta], India, India
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