Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Jul 18: Trinamool Congress (TMC) National general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday strongly criticised the demolition of the party's office at Amtala in South 24 Parganas district, alleging political vendetta and vowing to challenge the action in court.
Addressing the media, Banerjee said the party had already sent an email to the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) of the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, attaching video footage of the demolition. He said the TMC would soon move the Calcutta High Court and, if required, approach the Supreme Court seeking legal relief.
Accusing the authorities of targeting the party, Banerjee warned that if the Trinamool Congress returns to power in West Bengal in 2031, all BJP offices in the state would face similar action under the same legal provisions that were allegedly invoked to demolish the Amtala office.
The TMC leader also launched a sharp attack on party rebels, including legislators and Members of Parliament who have broken away from the organisation, particularly those who have joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI).
Referring to criticism from former party colleagues over the Trinamool Congress's performance in the recent West Bengal Assembly elections, Banerjee rejected allegations that he was solely responsible for the party's defeat.
He argued that if he was being blamed for the electoral setback, he should also receive credit for the party's successive victories in previous elections.
Issuing a public challenge to the dissident leaders, Banerjee said that if any of them chose to return to the Trinamool Congress, he would resign from his post within an hour. However, he claimed that none of the rebels would rejoin the party, alleging that their political decisions were motivated by an understanding that they would no longer face action from police or central investigative agencies after leaving the TMC.
His remarks came amid continuing political tensions in West Bengal following the demolition of the Trinamool Congress office at Amtala and the growing rift between the party leadership and its rebel leaders.