As the Trinamool Congress (TMC) faces one of the most turbulent phases in its nearly three-decade history, senior party leader Kalyan Banerjee has publicly drawn a line in the sand for party president Mamata Banerjee.
The four-time MP from Serampore and one of Mamata’s oldest political associates has openly challenged the growing influence of her nephew and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, even asking the chief minister to choose between the two.
Kalyan Banerjee said, “Let Didi decide what she wants to do. And so far I am with her.” “If Didi decides to go with Abhishek then I will decide myself.”
These statements are significant not only because of their unusually blunt nature, but also because they come from a leader who has stood by Mamata Banerjee since the formation of the TMC in 1998, and has often defended the party during some of its toughest moments.
What did Kalyan Banerjee say?
Banerjee made it clear that his loyalty to Mamata Banerjee remains intact, but his differences with Abhishek Banerjee have reached a point where he sees no room for compromise.
“I am still with Didi but I will not tolerate Abhishek Banerjee’s arrogance. I have dropped all issues related to Banerjee,” he said.
Banerjee’s decision to distance himself from Abhishek-related cases appears to have resulted from disagreements over the handling of the legal challenge related to allegations of forged signatures on legal aid agreements submitted to the West Bengal Assembly.
The controversy emerged weeks after the junta’s defeat in the House of Representatives elections, when some lawmakers claimed that their signatures were either forged or used without their consent on documents submitted to the House regarding the appointment of the opposition leader and the party’s chief whip.
However, Kalyan’s criticism went beyond the political row and turned personal, targeting what he described as Abhishek Banerjee’s attitude towards senior leaders.
“He (Abhishek Banerjee) thinks everyone is below him, as if everyone is just employees on Camac Street. I have been in this profession for 45 years. Who does not know me as a senior lawyer? Is there anyone? Since when have I been practicing? Leave this court aside. Even in the Supreme Court, people know me. But he has become very arrogant… He does not respect anyone,” Kalyan was quoted as saying by PTI on Thursday.
He added that he conveyed his position directly to Mamata Banerjee.
“That’s why I stepped down. This morning I also told Didi: Choose between me and Abhishek Banerjee.”
The remarks represent the strongest public challenge yet from a senior TMC leader against Abhishek Banerjee, who is widely seen as the political heir apparent to Mamata Banerjee.
TMC is already fragile
Banerjee did not announce his resignation from the party. However, his warning that he would “decide my own path” if Mamata Banerjee backs Abhishek has sparked speculation about what comes next.
For a party already under pressure due to recent resignations of senior leaders, signs of rebellion among some MPs and MLAs, and speculation about possible political realignments, Kalyan Banerjee’s statements have added to the party’s woes.
However, this is not the first time that Banerjee has found himself at the center of a controversy involving his fellow TMC leaders.
In 2025, he got into a public spat with party MP Mahua Moitra. The row escalated into personal attacks, prompting Mamata Banerjee to publicly express her displeasure and urge leaders to end the infighting.
This incident eventually led to Banerjee stepping down as the party’s chief whip in the Lok Sabha.
Earlier in April, his volatile stance within the party came to light during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech in Parliament. When Banerjee interrupted the speech, Modi told Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla: “Arre bhai, inko bolne dijiye, waha par bechare ke muh pe taala laga hua hai. Waha Bengal me koi bolne nahi deta isko. (Let him speak. He has a padlock on his mouth because they don’t allow him to speak in Bengal).”
The comment quickly gained traction on social media and was widely interpreted as a criticism of the TMC’s internal dynamics.
Why are his comments important?
Kalyan Banerjee is not just another disgruntled leader. The 69-year-old lawyer-politician has been among Mamata Banerjee’s closest associates for decades.
Within the party, Banerjee is often seen as one of the senior leaders who has been with Mamata Banerjee since the early days of the TMC. In recent years, he has at times appeared at odds with the growing role and influence of Abhishek Banerjee within the party organisation.
A practicing lawyer of the Calcutta High Court since 1981, he has represented the TMC in several politically sensitive legal battles and has often served as one of the party’s most prominent advocates.
His political journey was also closely linked to the rise of the Transitional Military Council. After winning the 2001 Assembly elections, he later moved into national politics and is now serving his fourth term as MP from Serampore.
His latest outburst therefore reflects more than just personal animosity; It highlights the ongoing conflict between the party’s traditional leadership and its emerging power centre.
