NEW DELHI: TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Friday reacted to Lok Sabha MP Kalyan Banerjee's "arrogant" remark, saying that the senior party leader had the "right to say a few harsh words" as the latter had seen him "grow up".
"Kalyan Banerjee has seen me grow up. He is a senior leader of the party. He has every right to say a few harsh words to me. There is no reason to create unnecessary controversy over it," PTI cited Abhishek saying.
Kalyan Banerjee had expressed his frustration with Abhishek's leadership and had asked TMC chief Mamata to choose between the nephew and a neta.
"I am with Mamata Banerjee, but Didi will have to decide if she is with Abhishek or the TMC. Mamata di has to decide first. If she cannot run the party without Abhishek, then I will not be there," he had said.
"His arrogance has crossed all limits. If he remains in the party, I will have to think whether I should continue," he added.
The controversy was sparked by proceedings related to the assembly signature forgery case, where the veteran MP had been expected to defend Abhishek before the Calcutta high court before stepping aside. He announced that he would not appear for Abhishek in legal matters.
TMC crisis deepened after 20 Lok Sabha MPs led by party chief whip Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar reportedly sought recognition from Speaker Om Birla as a separate bloc backing the BJP-led NDA. Moreover, 58 of the TMC's 80 MLAs in the West Bengal assembly have rallied behind expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee for the leader of the opposition post, defying the party's official nominee.
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