The long-simmering internal frictions within West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) have blown into a full-scale public dispute. Senior party MP and veteran advocate Kalyan Banerjee launched a blistering attack against TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who is also the nephew of party supremo Mamata Banerjee. Kalyan Banerjee openly accused Abhishek of harboring a deep-seated arrogance that is severely harming the party’s operational dynamic. In a dramatic ultimatum, the veteran politician stated that he is entirely prepared to sever ties with the Trinamool Congress if the high command fails to address the ongoing toxicity within the leadership structure.
The outburst was triggered by a deep sense of personal and professional humiliation regarding a high-profile legal case representing the party’s interests. Kalyan Banerjee revealed that he had worked late into the night preparing comprehensive legal arguments for an upcoming court hearing, only to find out at the eleventh hour that he had been unceremoniously replaced without any prior communication. “They filed the petition through another lawyer, sidelining me completely. They went to the extent of appointing individuals who previously worked as juniors under me to head the matter. Is this the kind of respect a senior advocate deserves from the party?” an aggrieved Kalyan Banerjee questioned.
Taking his criticisms directly to the organization’s structure, the senior MP remarked that Abhishek Banerjee has begun carrying himself like an absolute king within the party hierarchy. Reminding the leadership of his unyielding loyalty to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during the party’s most challenging historical crises, Kalyan Banerjee threw down the gauntlet to the top leadership. He clarified that while his respect for Mamata remains intact, he will not tolerate a culture where Abhishek is treated as irreplaceable. “If Mamata Banerjee believes that the TMC cannot function without Abhishek, then I am more than ready to step down and walk away,” he warned, demanding an immediate intervention from the party supremo to clear the air.
