TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee has publicly declared his loyalty to Mamata Banerjee while challenging her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, stating that Mamata must choose between the two, and implying he would leave if Abhishek's leadership is prioritized. This dissent comes amidst a broader internal struggle within the TMC, with around 20 Lok Sabha MPs reportedly joining a dissident faction led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, fueled by dissatisfaction with Abhishek Banerjee's perceived arrogance and increasing influence over more seasoned politicians, a sentiment exacerbated by Kalyan Banerjee's recent removal as Abhishek's lawyer in a signature forgery case where CID searches have taken place, including at the Kalighat party office, further highlighting the growing internal fractures as other MPs, like Prakash Chik Baraik, also resign.

TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee has publicly declared his loyalty to Mamata Banerjee while challenging her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, stating that Mamata must choose between the two, and implying he would leave if Abhishek's leadership is prioritized. This dissent comes amidst a broader internal struggle within the TMC, with around 20 Lok Sabha MPs reportedly joining a dissident faction led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, fueled by dissatisfaction with Abhishek Banerjee's perceived arrogance and increasing influence over more seasoned politicians, a sentiment exacerbated by Kalyan Banerjee's recent removal as Abhishek's lawyer in a signature forgery case where CID searches have taken place, including at the Kalighat party office, further highlighting the growing internal fractures as other MPs, like Prakash Chik Baraik, also resign.

TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee has publicly declared his loyalty to Mamata Banerjee while challenging her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, stating that Mamata must choose between the two, and implying he would leave if Abhishek's leadership is prioritized. This dissent comes amidst a broader internal struggle within the TMC, with around 20 Lok Sabha MPs reportedly joining a dissident faction led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, fueled by dissatisfaction with Abhishek Banerjee's perceived arrogance and increasing influence over more seasoned politicians, a sentiment exacerbated by Kalyan Banerjee's recent removal as Abhishek's lawyer in a signature forgery case where CID searches have taken place, including at the Kalighat party office, further highlighting the growing internal fractures as other MPs, like Prakash Chik Baraik, also resign.

The growing dissent within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has led yet another Mamata Banerjee loyalist to speak out against her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, on Thursday, said he remained loyal to Mamata, but insisted that the party supremo would have to choose whom to back.

"I am with Mamata Banerjee. But Mamata has to decide whether she will keep Abhishek or me," said Kalyan Banerjee.

Kalyan has been one of the few MPs standing by Mamata, while around 20 Lok Sabha MPs have joined the dissident TMC faction led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar.

"She has to decide first. If she cannot run the party without Abhishek, then I will not be there," Kalyan Banerjee clarified.

The TMC MP had moved the Calcutta High Court seeking the quashing of the FIR against Abhishek and protection from arrest by the CID in the signature forgery case. The matter came up for hearing on Thursday.

Kalyan reportedly discovered on Wednesday night that he was no longer representing Abhishek in the case and that another lawyer had been appointed in his place. A junior lawyer had replaced him.

"I was told at 9.30 at night that I don't have to fight the case," Kalyan said, questioning Abhishek's arrogance and blaming him for the setback suffered by the TMC. He asked, "Am I a dustbin?", while saying that he was not an employee of Camac Street, referring to Abhishek's office, which was searched by the CID on Tuesday. The searches were conducted simultaneously at the party office in Kalighat in connection with the signature forgery case.

The last-minute decision to replace him as lawyer drew Kalyan's ire. He was present on Tuesday when CID officials conducted searches at the Kalighat party office, located in the same premises as Mamata Banerjee's residence.

Incidentally, Kalyan was among the MPs who travelled to Delhi to attend the INDIA bloc meeting on Monday, along with Mamata and Abhishek.

The rebel faction of the TMC, which claims the support of more than 60 of the assembly's 80 MLAs, 20 Lok Sabha MPs, apart from three resignations from the Rajya Sabha, reflects growing dissatisfaction with Mamata's leadership being increasingly overshadowed by Abhishek over the years.

Many leaders who have been with the TMC since its inception, or who joined the party over the decades, are reportedly unwilling to accept Abhishek as a key decision-maker over more experienced politicians whom they believe better understand the ground realities and public sentiment in their constituencies. Several dissident leaders have cited Abhishek's alleged arrogance and disrespectful behaviour as reasons behind the open split in the party.

Earlier in the day, Rajya Sabha MP Prakash Chik Baraik resigned, becoming the third MP in four days to step down after Sukhendu Shekhar Ray and Sushmita Dev.

For Mamata, the situation presents a difficult choice, even as her faction has chosen to retain Abhishek as the party's national general secretary and has shown little willingness to take accountability for the party's defeat in the April assembly elections.

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