• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee defended nephew Abhishek amid TMC resignations.
  2. Accused rebel leaders of using Abhishek as a scapegoat.
  3. Asserted ability to rebuild party from scratch if needed.

Amid a series of resignations within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), party chief and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly defended her nephew and TMC national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee. Her statement came after her former close aide and ex-minister Madan Mitra on Wednesday quit the party to join the rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee.

Mamata Backs Abhishek

Responding to the criticism, Banerjee addressed party workers through a Facebook Live session, dismissing allegations against Abhishek. Notably, while announcing his exit, Mitra said he was "unable to work effectively" within the party and alleged that the TMC had become more focused on promoting Abhishek Banerjee. She accused rebel leaders of using him as a scapegoat to justify their departure from the party.

ALSO READ: ‘Mamata’s Leadership Is Focused On Promoting Abhishek Banerjee’: Madan Mitra After TMC Exit

"Today Abhishek is very bad for you (rebel TMC leaders). You don’t remember that his wife went to CBI with their children. He could have done setting and got relief. If he did any mistake he overcame it because he is fighting like a tiger," Mamata said, as reported by news agency ANI. She also asserted that the party could be rebuilt from scratch just as she had done in the past.

Mamata Hits Backs At Rebels

"Today we have 18 MPs. Yes, some are being threatened. Even today, one man left. He told me yesterday that his family is being threatened. I will say, those who want to leave, please do. If I could restart the party in 2006, I can do it again," Banerjee added.

Madan Mitra's Exit Sparks Political Storm

Kamarhati MLA Mitra's exit is being seen as one of the biggest setbacks for the TMC. However, the conflicting claims made by Banerjee and Mitra over the reasons behind his resignation has intensified discussion. Banerjee has claimed that Mitra had privately told her that his family was being threatened, prompting his decision, whereas Mitra has publicly offered a different explanation. He claimed that TMC had become more focused on promoting Abhishek than strengthening its organisational structure.

ALSO READ: Mamata Banerjee's Trusted Aide Madan Mitra Joins Rebel TMC MLAs Day After ED Summons Wife, Sons


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