He's fighting like a tiger: Mamata Banerjee backs Abhishek amid growing TMC revolt
Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the BJP as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) continued to reel under its worst organisational crisis since
Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the BJP as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) continued to reel under its worst organisational crisis since its formation, with a series of senior leaders resigning, defecting or joining the rival faction led by Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee. Addressing party workers during a Facebook Live interaction, the former West Bengal chief minister accused the BJP of using police and central agencies to engineer defections, apologised to the people "on behalf of the traitors", and firmly backed her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, saying he did not give in to intimidation and has been fighting like a tiger. Read Full Story "Today Abhishek is very bad for you (rebel TMC leaders). You don’t remember that his wife went to CBI with their children. He could have done setting and got relief. If he did any mistake he overcame it because he is fighting like a tiger," Mamata said. Her remarks came hours after senior party leader and a close aide of Mamata Banerjee, Madan Mitra, joined the rebel TMC camp. FULL SUPPORT TO ABHISHEK BANERJEE Throwing her full weight behind Abhishek Banerjee, Mamata dismissed allegations that his alleged high-handedness had fuelled the split and said he had instead become the principal target of political attacks because he refused to compromise.
"Abhishek Banerjee has been turned into an excuse. His family members were summoned. Had he wanted, he could have got relief. But he did not run away from the battlefield. The way he has continued to fight, all his flaws have been forgiven. He is fighting like a tiger," she said. ON MADAN MITRA’S EXIT Referring to the defection of veteran TMC leader Madan Mitra earlier in the day, Mamata linked his exit to the Enforcement Directorate summons issued to his wife and two sons. "The person who left today had yesterday informed us that he and his family had received a summons. We understood then that he might switch camps. Abhishek has nothing to do with his decision," she said. Seeking to project confidence despite the exodus, Mamata asserted that she was prepared to rebuild the party. "No one can stop me. If I could start afresh after 2004, then I can start again after 2026," she said, while also alleging that her political opponents wanted her dead. "They wanted me to suffer a heart attack. But I will live till I see your end," she added. MADAN MITRA JUMPED SHIP Her remarks came hours after former minister and veteran TMC leader Madan Mitra resigned from the Mamata Banerjee-led faction and joined the rival camp headed by Ritabrata Banerjee.
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