"Slit my throat, only Mamata's name will come": Abhishek Banerjee dismisses report of forming new party

At a major Trinamool Congress (TMC) meeting held at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata on Thursday, the party’s All India General Secretary and Diamond Harbour MP, Abhishek Banerjee, dismissed reports suggesting he was planning to form a new party or join the BJP. Reiterating his loyalty to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, he said, “Even if they cut my throat, my severed throat will still say ‘Mamata Banerjee Zindabad’.” Addressing party leaders and workers, he emphasized that his political stance remains unchanged despite allegations and attacks from opposition parties. Banerjee also accused the BJP of attempting to malign the image of Bengal through incidents such as Sandeshkhali and RG Kar Hospital while asserting that similar attempts had been made in the past.

Banerjee also spoke about the charge sheet reportedly filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), stating that his name appeared only twice in the 28-page document without any further identification details. “They have not provided any identification—who Abhishek is, where he lives, nothing is written,” he said. He alleged that the CBI, like BJP leaders, avoids mentioning his full name directly and instead refers to him using indirect references. He challenged the investigating agency and opposition leaders to present concrete evidence against him, repeating his past statement: “If anyone proves corruption against me, I will hang myself.” He claimed that repeated attacks against him had only strengthened his resolve.

Addressing financial matters, Banerjee accused the central government of withholding funds for the 100-day work scheme and housing scheme, stating that the state government had stepped in to provide financial support. He highlighted welfare projects such as Lakshmi Bhandar and Pathashree, asserting that the state government had made significant investments in these initiatives. He also criticized the opposition for attempting to divert public attention from these efforts. According to Banerjee, these projects demonstrate the TMC government’s commitment to people’s welfare despite financial constraints due to the alleged non-disbursement of central funds.

Regarding electoral strategy, Banerjee laid out his vision for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, setting a target of winning more than 215 seats. He recalled Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s recent statement in the Assembly predicting a two-thirds majority for TMC, which would mean securing around 195-200 seats. However, he urged party leaders and workers to exceed that number, calling for immediate groundwork to achieve the goal. He stated that the BJP had repeatedly conspired against TMC and Bengal, but people had responded decisively in past elections and would do so again in 2026. He predicted that the BJP would lose more seats than before.

Banerjee also issued a strong warning to party leaders and workers, emphasizing internal discipline within the TMC. He stated that anyone speaking against the party, whether a city president, MLA, or MP, was directly insulting the organization. “I identified Mukul Roy and Suvendu Adhikari. I have taken up the responsibility of identifying traitors within the party. No one will be spared,” he said. He also asserted that he had repeatedly removed such individuals and would do so again if necessary. His remarks reinforced his stance on maintaining party unity and weeding out dissenting voices ahead of the crucial electoral battle in 2026.