Abhishek Banerjee has gone with the conciliatory route after being put in his place by senior MP Kalyan Banerjee, who called him ‘arrogant’ just a day prior. The national general secretary says the old hand can have his say as the TMC deals with a signature forgery case and some high-profile departures.
“Kalyan has watched me come of age; he’s entitled to his opinion,” Abhishek told reporters on Friday. He made it clear he won’t be lashing back at a superior and wants to avoid making a mountain out of a molehill.
Infighting collides with ‘Signgate’ probe
All of this is happening while the CID is into the matter of some legislators’ signatures being faked on papers for the West Bengal Assembly. They’re calling it ‘Signgate’ and it has already cost two TMC MLAs their jobs and put a few big names under a microscope.
Then you have the restlessness within the ranks. You’ve had your share of resignations and a good bit of pushback from the legislators, some of whom are pointing a finger at Abhishek for the way the Assembly polls went.
Kalyan Banerjee escalates pressure on leadership
The 69-year-old has made his point to Mamata Banerjee: it’s him or Abhishek. He put it to Derek O’Brien and said there is an excess of arrogance in the room.
He even put up a kind of litmus test. “You can be my leader only when you win Tripura or Goa,” he said of Abhishek.
Kalyan says his ire has to do with how the forgery case was run. “I was on the job, then came the raids and I was put aside. With 45 years in this, you don’t treat me like a dustbin,” he said, and pointed to Ayan Bhattacharjee as the one who took over.
He sees a move away from ‘Mamata’s model’ to something of a ‘Diamond Harbour model’. But he was quick to add he has no designs on going anywhere or making new bedfellows. “I was with her and I will be.”
Abhishek’s measured reply
For his part, Abhishek has been all about giving due respect. “He is older than me. He has known me since I was a boy. I’m not going to say a word against him,” he said. There is no call for any of that unnecessary drama, in his view.
It’s an attempt to de-escalate, if you will, while the row has a way of upstaging any effort to put the party on even keel during the investigation.
What this means for Mamata Banerjee
Kalyan has made it plain: if he is to be in the TMC, there has to be a reset. Abhishek has to be stripped of his positions and be a regular worker. If not, he’s done.
It’s a question for the chief minister: do you keep your own or the ones who have given 40 years to you and the party? It’s a lot to put on the table for a party that needs to show some discipline.
In their own words, here is where they stand:
– Kalyan: She has to make a choice – me or Abhishek.
– Kalyan: I’ll be here if he is demoted to an ordinary worker.
– Abhishek: A senior is free to have a say.
– Kalyan: Don’t expect me to go and make another alliance.
What comes next
Mamata has to see how she handles the CID and the factions at the same time. Whatever she does with the rosters and the responsibilities will be a sign of how the TMC is going to deal with ‘Signgate’ and the fallout.
One side is after some accountability, the other is for keeping the peace. We will see if the TMC can hold its ground in the weeks to come.
