Is Mamata Banerjee being pressured to choose “Kalyan Banerjee vs Abhishek” in TMC? Is the removal of the lawyer at the last moment in the CID search operation case a planned political move? Are the allegations of “arrogance” and distrust of Abhishek Banerjee a sign of deeper conflict in the party? Has the power struggle within TMC now reached a public breakdown?
Kalyan Banerjee Statement: The most sensational and shocking news of this time is coming out from the politics of West Bengal. MP Kalyan Banerjee, one of the most prominent leaders of Trinamool Congress (TMC) and considered extremely loyal to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has directly given an ultimatum to Mamata Banerjee. Such a volcano of discontent has erupted within the party regarding the high-profile signature forgery and CID search operation case, which has shaken the entire TMC. Kalyan Banerjee has made a direct challenge to Mamata Banerjee’s nephew and party’s number-2 leader Abhishek Banerjee by making very serious and insulting allegations – “Either choose us or Abhishek!”
That ‘secret’ phone call at midnight and the insult to Kalyan Banerjee
This high-voltage drama and suspense started at midnight on Wednesday. Kalyan Banerjee was preparing for a very important hearing to be held in the Calcutta High Court. This case was related to Abhishek Banerjee’s signature forgery case and the CID search operation related to it, in which Kalyan himself was appearing. But then his son Sirsanya gave him such a news which slipped the ground from under his feet. At the last moment, Kalyan Banerjee came to know that he has been removed as a lawyer from this case and in his place the responsibility of advocacy has been given to Kishore Dutta. Enraged by this sudden turn of events, Kalyan Banerjee asked in a sharp tone, “Will I be treated like a dustbin?”
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“Abhishek is very arrogant…” Question raised on respect of senior leaders
Kalyan Banerjee has considered this step of Abhishek Banerjee as the biggest insult to his loyalty and seniority. While talking to ‘India Today’, he made the sharpest attack of his life on Abhishek Banerjee. Kalyan Banerjee said in a very aggressive manner: “I have always stood by Mamata Di, no matter how many leaders have left the party. But now Mamata Di will have to choose one (between me and Abhishek). This is extremely insulting. Abhishek does not know how to respect senior people. He has never trusted me and he never will. Who is he? Such an arrogant person! Because of his arrogance, the entire party has been ruined today.”
The ‘suspense’ of CID Raid and the alleged connection of BJP
There is another deep and mysterious angle behind this entire controversy, which has created a stir in the political circles. Kalyan Banerjee claimed that he himself was present there when CID raided his and Mamata Banerjee’s residence in the TMC forged signature case. Raising serious questions on the intentions of the investigating agency, he alleged that the two witnesses brought by the CID were directly associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Kalyan had challenged this search operation in the court, calling it illegal, but just before the hearing, he was thrown out like a fly in milk.
Big order of High Court and uncertain future of TMC
Amidst this fierce infighting, the Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted interim protection from arrest to Abhishek Banerjee (who is currently in Delhi) in the forgery case, but also issued strict instructions to him to appear before the West Bengal CID by 6 pm. Now the eyes of the entire Bengal politics are fixed on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Fear of political impact
This open rebellion of Kalyan Banerjee has brought to the crossroads the ongoing battle between ‘Old Guard’ (old loyalists) versus ‘New Guard’ (Abhishek Banerjee’s young faction) within TMC. Will Mamata Banerjee be able to convince her most loyal commander Kalyan Banerjee or will she completely hand over the command of the party to her nephew Abhishek Banerjee? This suspense will decide the direction of power in Bengal in the coming days.