The Trinamool Congress’ issues deepened on Thursday as walkout furor surrounded party MP Kalyan Banerjee after he ultimatum to former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. “Choose me or Abhishek Banerjee,” Kalyan said in a clear message to Mamata, criticizing her nephew.
But the representative of the Transitional Military Council, Kirti Azad, denied these speculations, and expressed his confidence in reaching a truce between the two parties. Referring to the Lok Sabha MP as a “fighter”, Azad said Kalyan was “rightly” in his anger against the party, but added that he would not leave the TMC.
“Kalyan Banerjee is a fighter. He has been with Didi from the beginning till now. He is not going anywhere,” Azad told news agency ANI. He said that Kalyan is an “emotional person” and “his emotions should be respected”, while assuring that Mamata will talk to him and “make things right”.
He added: “He has taken Didi’s name, and you will talk to him. Everything will be arranged.” Announcing his ultimatum on Thursday, Kalyan announced his decision to withdraw from the cases linked to Abhishek Banerjee. He cited the TMC’s decision not to consult him before filing another writ petition and having another lawyer take over the case he was handling as one of the reasons for doing so. In this context, Azad said that Kalyan was “angry,” adding that his anger was “justified and correct.”
Read also | Congress merger buzz, Saioni, other loyalists ditch Mamata: What’s happening in TMC
“TMC should inform him that the issue will be handled by someone else, informing him at the last minute was not right…but Didi will make things right,” Azad told ANI.
Kalyan Banerjee’s ultimatum worsens TMC crisis
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, while sending his letter to Mamata earlier today, criticized her nephew and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, calling him “arrogant” and someone who believes “everyone is beneath him”. Expressing his support for Mamata, Kalyan says he doesn’t feel the same about her bhaipo.
Kalyan Banerjee said, “I am still with Didi but I will not tolerate Abhishek Banerjee’s arrogance. I have dropped all issues related to Banerjee.” Referring to the handing over of one of his cases to another lawyer, Kalyan said: “I spent the night preparing the case. Even today, you can see that I go everywhere, take risks and do my job. However, their habit of showing disrespect has not changed.”
This came soon after the Calcutta High Court heard the petition filed by Abhishek regarding the allegations of rebellious MLAs regarding forged signatures submitted to the Bengal Assembly. He said that if Mamata chooses Abhishek, he will “make up my mind”.
The TMC has faced a series of setbacks since its defeat in the assembly elections in West Bengal last month, with 58 of its 80 members rebelling against the party. The MLAs disowned Abhishek Banerjee, but asked Mamata to be her advisor. The rebels were led by expelled leader Ritabrata Banerjee, who was appointed as leader of the opposition.
Following this, TMC MPs Sukhendu Sekhar Rai, Sushmita Dave and Prakash Shek Barak resigned from the party and their Rajya Sabha membership this week. In Lok Sabha too, another divided faction emerged, with Kakoli Ghosh saying she has the support of 19 MPs and would like to extend support to the BJP-led NDA along with them.
