Don’t like Abhishek’s arrogance, Didi must choose: Kalyan Banerjee draws red line

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP and senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee who has so far remained a Mamata Banerjee loyalist issued an ultimatum to the party supremo and former West Bengal Chief Minister saying that she should choose between him and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, whom the former described as “arrogant”.

“I will urge Didi: if you will remain dependent on Abhishek Banerjee, then stick with him-leave me. But if you part ways with Abhishek Banerjee, then I am with you. He has destroyed our party,” the senior TMC leader said speaking to reporters on Thursday.

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The fallout between the two leaders came out in the open when Abhishek, who faces a criminal investigation in a forgery case, had dropped him as his lawyer at the eleventh hour. Speaking to reporters, Kalyan Banerjee shared that he only found out about this development when a second petition was filed.

Venting out his anger, Kalyan Banerjee said that he will not appear for Abhishek Banerjee in any case in furture because he does not like the latter’s “arrogant attitude”.

“I have spent 45 years in this profession; all these people have worked with me as juniors. How can he humiliate me? I am senior to him in politics as well. He cannot do this,” he argued.

Blaming the TMC’s huge electoral blow in the last assembly elections and the subsequent slew of resignations that have hit the party, Banerjee said, “He (Abhishek) needs to understand that it is because of him that we lost. He also needs to understand that the party is facing this crisis because of him. I cannot tolerate disrespect.”

The Sreerampur Lok Sabha MP also blamed the Diamond Harbour MP’s attitudinal problems for the party’s recent downfall saying, “As long as this ‘boss’ attitude persists, the party will not survive. If Abhishek Banerjee remains there, the party will not last. He is not the Trinamool Congress.”

Banerjee stressed his allegiance to party boss Mamata Banerjee especially during its difficult phase but drew a red line saying that she “must decide whom she wants to move forward with”.

Underlining the fact that he shares a long political bond with the party supremo, he said, “She (Mamata Banerjee) shares a blood relationship with Abhishek Banerjee. Didi needs to decide-I do not share a blood bond with her but we have been working with her for 35–40 years. Therefore, Didi must choose whether she will move forward with those with whom she shares a blood bond, or with us.”