Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday challenged former party leaders who changed sides or joined the rebel camp after the BJP came to power in West Bengal, saying he would resign from the party within an hour if they returned to former chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
Several MLAs and MLAs who left the TMC or joined the rebel faction after the Assembly elections claimed that one of the main reasons behind their exit was Abhishek Banerjee’s leadership style. Recently, senior TMC leaders Anubrata Mondal and MLA Madan Mitra, who staged a walkout, publicly expressed their frustration with the TMC Secretary General.
Both later joined the rebel camp led by Ritabrata Banerjee. The common frustration among the rebel leaders is that Mamata did not listen to their issues regarding Abhishek.
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Responding to the criticism, Abhishek said those blaming him should first go back to the TMC if they truly believe in Mamata’s leadership.
“Those who have left the party and are abusing me or blaming me now… I challenge them to go back to Didi (Mamata Banerjee). If they do, I will resign from the party within an hour… but they won’t. They have made a deal with the BJP: leave the party, join the rebel camp or BJP, get protection from ED, RBI and other agencies, then blame Abhishek Banerjee and abuse,” the news agency quoted the TMC leader as saying. “His treatment.” that I.
He also said that everyone has the right to choose their political path, but claimed that leaders who change their positions immediately after receiving an emergency department summons do so out of fear.
“I don’t know how many FIRs there are against me.”
Banerjee said he was called by the ED around 10 times and also faced interrogation by CBI, STF and state police.
“I was also summoned by the ED. I did not run away. I was called about 10 times. The CBI, STF and state police also summoned me. There are 20-30 FIRs against me. I personally do not know the exact number. I have approached the Supreme Court to get a list from the DGP of all the FIRs registered against me,” he said in a video released by the news agency. PTI.
Read also | TMC’s Madan Mitra joins rebel camp, Mamata says people are entering ‘BJP washing machine’ in search of safety
After his party office is demolished, Abhishek vows to move the court
Abhishek on Saturday claimed that the demolition of the party’s Amtala office was politically motivated and accused the local administration of working in collusion with the BJP. He said the TMC would challenge the action in the Calcutta High Court, asserting that the office was legally built on land purchased from the private sector with all necessary approvals.
He also denied allegations that the office was used in conspiracies to grab booths, saying such allegations could not be proven during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
“If that is true, then why cannot such allegations be proven during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections?” he asked. Banerjee told reporters in Kolkata.
