Keep him or us: Kalyan challenges Mamata
Senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee on Thursday publicly challenged party supremo Mamata Banerjee to choose between her nephew and long-time loyalists like himself, while accusing Abhishek Banerjee of arrogance, disrespect toward seniors, and harming the interests of the party.
“Didi must take the final call on whether she will retain her blood relative or workers like me who have put in 40 years of our lives for her and this party,” he said. “It will not be possible for me to remain in the TMC if he [Abhishek] remains the leader,” the 45-year legal veteran and Serampore MP said.
The trigger for Kalyan’s outburst was him being replaced by a junior lawyer at the last minute to represent Abhishek in the Kalyan representing Abhishek in the Calcutta High Court case involving signature forgery, linked to CID searches at TMC offices and Mamata’s residence. Describing the development as insulting, Kalyan Banerjee said that he would no longer appear for Abhishek in any court matters.
However, he would continue to handle cases for the party itself. He said he would ask Mamata to either keep Abhishek and let party veterans go, or keep them and remove Abhishek.
“His arrogant attitude has destroyed the party. Every day, he thinks he is the ‘king,’” Kalyan said. He further alleged that Abhishek’s “arrogant attitude” and “fluctuating mindset” had damaged the party and made it difficult for seniors to work effectively.
The developments underscore deepening factional tensions in the TMC as it grapples with electoral setbacks, legal challenges, and a wave of resignations and defections. Mamata Banerjee has yet to respond publicly to the ultimatum.
“One must respect seniors. How can he humiliate me?” Kalyan Banerjee said. “Abhishek has many advisors; I would not represent him in any court cases in future.”
Abhishek Banerjee is facing an investigation in the signature forgery case, and the Calcutta High Court recently granted him interim protection from arrest and directed him to appear before the CID. Kalyan Banerjee had been involved in the related proceedings until the reported change of counsel.
Mamata Banerjee is battling the exodus of TMC MLAs and MPs after her party’s heavy defeat in the May 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. On Thursday, the internal crisis in TMC widened further with Rajya Sabha MP Prakash Chik Baraik resigning from the Upper House and the party. A tribal leader from West Bengal, Baraik, was serving as a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and the Consultative Committee on Tribal Affairs. His resignation adds to a series of exits from the Trinamool Congress.
Rebel voices within the party have claimed significant support among MLAs and MPs, with reports of attempts to form a separate group in Parliament and possible realignments. The coming days will reveal whether Mamata Banerjee addresses the rift or if more senior leaders voice similar discontent.
