Senior TMC leader asks Mamata to ‘choose’ between him and nephew

Senior Trinamool Congress leader and MP Kalyan Banerjee with TMC chief Mamata Banerjee. PIC/X/@AITCofficial

Senior TMC leader and MP Kalyan Banerjee on Thursday issued an ultimatum to its supremo Mamata Banerjee to choose between her nephew Abhishek Banerjee and veterans like him, accusing the party national general secretary of "arrogance" and "fluctuating mindset".

The Lok Sabha MP from Sreerampur lashed out at Abhishek, alleging that the latter showed "no respect" for his "45-year professional experience". "I am not to be treated like a dustbin or an employee," Kalyan asserted and said the ball is now in Mamata's court to decide on whether to run the TMC with her nephew or with party loyalists.

"Didi [Mamata Banerjee] 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 added.

TMC Rajya Sabha MP Prakash Chik Baraik (left) submits his resignation. PIC/PTI

Kalyan, also a senior advocate, declared he would remove himself from all legal matters and court petitions concerning Abhishek, although the MP said he would continue contesting cases related to the the party.

"I will remain in this party only if Abhishek is removed from all leadership positions and retained only as an ordinary worker. Abhishek, who misbehaves with seniors and has an attitude of a boss, cannot be my leader. It will not be possible for me to remain in the TMC, if he remains," the senior party leader said.

Third MP quits

Rajya Sabha MP Prakash Chik Baraik resigned from the Upper House as well as the party on Thursday, saying he took the decision in view of the mandate given to the BJP by the people of West Bengal. Baraik is the third TMC MP to quit this week, after Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Sushmita Dev.

Won't desert Mamata: Shatrughan

Actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha asserted on Thursday that he would not abandon Mamata Banerjee in difficult times, saying she had stood by him when he was going through a challenging phase. The TMC MP from Asansol said some people may have left due to compulsions, fears or allurements, but his principled stand is that he would neither desert the party nor its leader. Veteran party leader Sougata Roy said he had received an offer to join the dissident MPs, which he turned down.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever