TMC MP and the party’s all-India general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said he will “continue to expose traitors” within the party, while addressing rumours that he would join the BJP or form a new party.
“In the past too, I had identified those who have betrayed the party, from Mukul Roy to Suvendu Adhikari. In the coming days too, I will identify such people,” said Banerjee, speaking at the mega TMC meet of leaders and workers at Kolkata’s Netaji Indoor Stadium on Thursday.
“News is being circulated that Abhishek Banerjee will go to the BJP or will float a new party. Even with a severed head, I will say, (Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee zindabad. Whatever is coming out in the news these days is a blatant lie,” he said.
In a word of caution for a section of party leaders, Banerjee said, “Those who are working at the grassroots level are the assets of the party. But there are leaders, block presidents, and others who want to grab power. They think that being an MP or an MLA, they will hold power. That will not be allowed.”
“There is no point in stoking a conspiracy. Those who are engaging in WhatsApp group politics should know there is no point doing this. Those who are conspiring will be impacted themselves,” added the Diamond Harbour MP, who is also Mamata Banerjee’s nephew.
“A lot of leaders have been saying things to stay relevant in the media by not following party discipline. Do not do so. Those who have done this have been identified,” he said.
Banerjee asked workers and leaders to prepare for the assembly polls next year and ensure more than 214 (out of 294) seats, and “forget about your differences in the next year and pay attention to working for the people. Make sure that people are receiving benefits of the welfare schemes.”
“Practically, there are three to four months at hand since there are festivities, monsoon, and examinations. We must start now. We should work together to ensure at least one more seat than what we got in 2021. We should ensure 215 seats at least,” he said.
Regarding his name in the third chargesheet of CBI in connection with the state school jobs scam, the MP said, “In its chargesheet of many pages, the CBI has put my name in two places. But there is no address or anything else. I had said this five years back, I am saying it now. I will hang myself if it is proved that I got money in any illegal way. The CBI had called me and I went to the Delhi office where I spent 10 hours. I do not fear the agency.”