KOLKATA: A fresh controversy has brought internal tensions within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) into the spotlight after senior party leader and Lok Sabha MP Kalyan Banerjee publicly announced that he would no longer represent Abhishek Banerjee in legal matters.
The development comes at a time when the party is already facing growing political challenges and speculation over factional divisions within its ranks. Kalyan Banerjee, a senior advocate and one of the party’s most vocal parliamentarians, made it clear that he would not continue handling legal cases involving TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
According to reports, Kalyan Banerjee expressed dissatisfaction over the way he had been treated and indicated that he no longer wished to carry the burden of fighting legal battles on behalf of the younger TMC leader. In a strongly worded statement, he reportedly remarked that he was “not a dustbin” and suggested that party chief Mamata Banerjee should decide whom she wanted to support.
The remarks are being viewed as one of the sharpest public criticisms of Abhishek Banerjee from within the party. Political observers believe the statement reflects deeper unease among sections of the TMC leadership regarding the growing influence of Abhishek Banerjee in the party’s organizational structure.
The timing of the dispute is significant. Abhishek Banerjee has recently found himself facing multiple legal and political challenges. He was recently named in an FIR linked to an alleged 2018 assault case involving a BJP worker, while courts in other matters have also sought his appearance before investigating agencies.
Kalyan Banerjee’s decision to step away from representing Abhishek has added fuel to speculation about an internal power struggle within the party. The disagreement also comes amid a broader phase of turmoil in the TMC, marked by resignations, rebel voices and questions over the party’s future direction after recent political setbacks.
While the TMC leadership has not officially commented on the latest episode, the public nature of the exchange has drawn widespread attention in political circles. Opposition parties have seized on the development, portraying it as evidence of growing divisions within the ruling party’s leadership structure.
Despite the sharp criticism, there has been no indication that Kalyan Banerjee intends to leave the party. His remarks appear aimed more at expressing frustration with Abhishek Banerjee’s role and conduct than challenging the authority of Mamata Banerjee herself.
The controversy is likely to intensify political debate in West Bengal in the coming days, especially as the TMC attempts to project unity amid mounting challenges. Whether the differences between the two senior leaders are resolved internally or evolve into a larger confrontation will be closely watched by both party workers and political observers.
For now, Kalyan Banerjee’s refusal to continue as Abhishek Banerjee’s legal representative has exposed another fault line within the TMC, raising fresh questions about cohesion and leadership dynamics inside the party.
