'I Will Resign Immediately, If...': Abhishek Banerjee Gives Open Challenge To TMC Rebels

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee has challenged the party's dissident members—who have accused him of weakening the organization—stating that he is ready to resign if they return to Mamata Banerjee's fold. Addressing the ongoing rebellion within the party, Abhishek said that those who left the TMC and are now blaming him should return to Mamata Banerjee.

He said, "Those who left the party and are now abusing or accusing me... I challenge them to return to Didi. If they do so, I will resign from the party within an hour."

He alleged that the dissident leaders would not return because they had struck a deal with the BJP. He stated, "They have made a deal with the BJP: leave the party, join the rebel camp or the BJP, and then blame and criticize Abhishek Banerjee."

He further added that if he is indeed the reason behind this rebellion, he would resign within 24 hours should the dissident leaders return to Mamata Banerjee's party.

Who have rebelled against the TMC?

Abhishek Banerjee's comments come at a time when several rebel TMC MLAs and MPs have parted ways with Mamata Banerjee—joining the NCP or the Ritabrata faction—and are holding him responsible for the crisis within the party.

Those who have left or distanced themselves from the TMC include Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev, and Prakash Chik Baraik. A large dissident faction comprising approximately 19 to 20 MPs—including Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Sharmila Sarkar, Prasun Banerjee, Jagadish Chandra Basunia, Arup Chakraborty, Kalipada Soren, Satabdi Roy, June Malia, Mala Roy, Yusuf Pathan, Rachana Banerjee, Bapi Haldar, Mitali Bag, Khalilur Rahman, Abu Taher Khan, Asit Mal, Dev Adhikari, and Partha Bhowmick—has merged with the Tripura-based NCP and extended its support to the BJP.

Did senior TMC leaders resign and join rival factions?

Recently, Madan Mitra resigned from his organizational posts within the TMC and joined a dissident faction, although he stated that he had not resigned as an MLA. Criticizing Abhishek Banerjee's leadership style as centralized and "Hitler-esque," he alleged that the party was weakening under the control of a single individual.

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy resigned from the Rajya Sabha and the party, while Sushmita Dev resigned from the Rajya Sabha and her party positions. Prakash Chik Baraik also resigned from the Rajya Sabha. All three leaders have joined the BJP.

A separate dissident faction, led or represented by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, has claimed the support of approximately 19 MPs and indicated that it might support the NDA.