New Delhi:
Addressing a press conference at his residence here, Banerjee said the Trinamool had called the briefing after dissident MPs claimed the support of a majority of the party’s Lok Sabha members and announced plans to seek recognition as a separate faction.
Lok Sabha MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who is at the forefront of the rebel faction, said on Monday that they had decided to write to Speaker Om Birla declaring their support for the NDA. Dastidar claimed that 20 party MPs had decided to write to the Speaker.
Referring to former Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, who resigned from the Upper House after levelling allegations against the party, Banerjee said the rebel MPs should follow the same course if they had grievances against the organisation.
“Roy has resigned from the Rajya Sabha after making allegations against our party. Those who are making allegations against the party must follow his path and show political morality by resigning as MPs,” he said.
Questioning the authenticity of a letter reportedly circulated by the dissident camp, Banerjee said such an important document had not been placed in the public domain even after 24 hours.
“If you are so honest, why don’t you make it public? Why don’t you have the courage to give the letter to the press?” Banerjee asked, alleging that the entire exercise lacked transparency.
He also accused the rebel leaders of effectively aligning themselves with the BJP.
The two leaders noted that the rebel MPs had met Union Minister Bhupender Yadav in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, proving that they were with the BJP.
On Monday, at a time when Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and several senior MPs attended a meeting of INDIA bloc leaders, some dissident Trinamool Congress MPs gathered at the residence of Union Minister and BJP West Bengal election in-charge Yadav.
Slamming the rebels, Banerjee said, “They may indulge in some jugglery of words, but people are not fools. They have changed their leader from Mamata Banerjee to Narendra Modi.”
“We are very happy that these people with a double character have gone. I spoke to Yusuf Pathan yesterday. He was in Baroda. He said Amit Shah had called him and that he was coming to Delhi to meet him. I spoke to him at night. Amit Shah is working to break the party. He is the person,” Banerjee charged.
Speaking at the press conference, Azad accused the rebels of betraying the party and preparing to join hands with the BJP.
“When BJP goons attack party workers, will you support them? This is betrayal. If you want to go to the BJP, say that openly,” he said.
Targeting Dastidar, Azad questioned her criticism of the party leadership and referred to the opportunities she had received within the organisation.
“Kakoli lost five elections, yet Mamata Banerjee made her an MP. You were removed as chief whip because you would not come to Parliament and would give instructions over the phone,” he alleged.
“These traitors can leave, but they should never take the name of Trinamool. We were born out of struggle,” Azad added.
STANDALONE
Forged-signature row: CID visits Mamata, Abhishek premises
Suprotim Mukherjee
Kolkata
Two teams from the West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department visited the Kalighat residence-cum-central office of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and the Camac Street office of the party’s second-in-command, Abhishek Banerjee, on Tuesday as part of an investigation into allegations that the signatures of several TMC legislators were forged on a proposal submitted to the Assembly Speaker seeking recognition of the Leader of the Opposition — a development that triggered the split within the party.
Officials from the state investigating agency arrived at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street around noon, accompanied by personnel from Kalighat Police Station and a sizeable contingent of women police officers.
Investigators initially visited the office of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee before redirecting their efforts to the former Chief Minister’s property. Both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee were in Delhi at the time.
The CID’s visit comes amid a deepening intra-party crisis. Rebel TMC MLAs Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha — both subsequently expelled from the party — allege that the leadership did not pass a formal resolution to elect the Leader of the Opposition during a party meeting on May 6. Instead, they claim that the leadership used a standard attendance register, converted it into a fraudulent resolution and used the signatures to back its preferred candidate.
Meanwhile, Abhishek Banerjee did not appear before the CID despite receiving three notices asking him to join the probe.
According to investigators, Tuesday’s visits were prompted by Abhishek Banerjee’s written response to the agency. “In his response, Abhishek Banerjee stated that the signatures of MLAs were collected at the party’s central office at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street. Based on that statement, we have come here as part of the investigation,” a CID officer told reporters.
The visit, however, initially met with resistance. The CID team entered the premises after a brief standoff with security personnel and a party leader. TMC leader and former MP Subhasish Chakraborty sought to justify the initial refusal to allow the team to enter.
“We have not allowed the CID to enter the premises in the absence of Abhishek Banerjee. Once he comes, the CID can come and search the house,” Chakraborty told reporters.
There was no immediate official response from Abhishek Banerjee’s office. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee alleged that the CID raids were being conducted on the direct orders of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Further investigation is under way, CID sources said.
