NEW DELHI: TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee was heckled with chants of 'Chor Chor' and 'Jai Shri Ram' at Kolkata airport on Tuesday amid the escalating political turmoil within the Trinamool Congress. As Banerjee stopped to speak with reporters after exiting the airport, he confronted the protesters and hit back at the BJP. The TMC leader alleged that BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was the real thief and went on to accuse Adhikari's father of the same.
Party Faces Internal Crisis
The confrontation comes as the Trinamool Congress faces what could become the biggest internal crisis in its 28-year history. Weeks after a bruising defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections, the party is now grappling with a major rebellion that threatens its influence in the state and could potentially strengthen the BJP-led NDA's position in Parliament.
Rebellion and Defections
The TMC is reportedly witnessing a second wave of defections, with at least 20 MPs said to have submitted a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressing support for the NDA. If the claims are accurate, the rebel faction would comfortably cross the two-thirds threshold required to avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law.
Addressing a press conference earlier, Banerjee dismissed the dissidents as 'traitors' and challenged them to resign from the party and seek a fresh mandate from voters. He claimed the rebels had exposed themselves by meeting senior BJP leader Bhupender Yadav and accused them of abandoning party workers while continuing to enjoy the benefits of office.
Banerjee's Counterattack
Banerjee also argued that the rebel camp does not yet have the numbers required to safely navigate the anti-defection law. Calling them 'gaddars', he accused the dissidents of being driven by a hunger for power. In a sharp attack on the BJP, Banerjee said, 'You have the CM, ED, CBI and other powers, but I have Maa, Maati, Maanush, my party, my party workers, and the people of West Bengal.'
The incident at the airport underscores the heightened tensions within the TMC as it struggles to contain the rebellion. The party's leadership is under pressure to address the dissent and prevent further erosion of its legislative strength. Meanwhile, the BJP has remained largely silent on the developments, though it stands to benefit from any defections.
Political analysts suggest that the outcome of this crisis could reshape the political landscape in West Bengal and influence parliamentary arithmetic. The TMC's ability to retain its MPs will be crucial in determining its future clout both in the state and at the national level.
