Fresh TMC Dissent Emerges As Kalyan Banerjee Targets Abhishek Banerjee

Fresh unrest within the Trinamool Congress has intensified after party MP Kalyan Banerjee openly criticised General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee and questioned his role in the organisation.

The remarks have brought renewed attention to growing dissatisfaction among a section of party leaders and legislators.

Kalyan Banerjee accused Abhishek Banerjee of arrogance and inappropriate conduct. He claimed that he felt humiliated after being sidelined in a legal matter linked to the West Bengal CID summons issued to the Trinamool General Secretary in the MLAs’ signature controversy.

The Sreerampur MP also warned that he could leave the party if Mamata Banerjee was unable to run the organisation independently of her nephew. He urged the former Chief Minister to choose between senior associates and Abhishek Banerjee.

The developments echo sentiments expressed earlier by rebel MLA Ritabrata Banerjee, who sought Mamata Banerjee’s guidance while criticising the current organisational structure.

The rebellion reportedly involves around 58 of the party’s 80 MLAs and nearly 18 of its 28 Lok Sabha MPs.

Leaders, including Ritabrata Banerjee, Sandipan Saha and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, have emerged as prominent voices within the dissenting camp.

Critics argue that Abhishek Banerjee transformed the party into a corporate-style organisation with increasing dependence on political consultancy firm I-PAC.

Several senior leaders allege that consultants gained influence over candidate selection, campaign strategies and local programmes.

Dissenting leaders claim that traditional grassroots politics, emotional voter connect, and worker participation gradually gave way to centralised, data-driven decision-making. They also allege that communication channels with the top leadership became restricted, leaving many senior members feeling marginalised.

Former Minister Krishnendu Narayan Choudhury and other leaders have blamed the organisational changes for recent electoral setbacks.

Critics describe the ongoing revolt as an ‘Anti-Bhaipo’ sentiment, reflecting opposition to Abhishek Banerjee’s leadership approach rather than to party founder Mamata Banerjee herself.