‘Not a dustbin’: TMC veteran Kalyan Banerjee says he won’t fight legal battles of Mamata’s nephew anymore
Times of India | 11 June 2026
KOLKATA: Senior Trinamool Congress leader and MP Kalyan Banerjee on Thursday escalated his public criticism of party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, accusing him of “arrogance” and a “fluctuating mindset”.
According to news agency PTI, the senior advocate said he would no longer represent Abhishek in legal matters and court petitions, though he would continue appearing in cases related to the TMC.
The fallout came after Kalyan, who had been representing Abhishek in a signature forgery case filed by the CID in the Calcutta high court, claimed he was not informed about a separate writ petition filed by the Diamond Harbour MP over the agency’s search operations at the TMC office at Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence and Abhishek’s Camac Street office.
“The two cases are connected, and I had mentioned the search operation issue before the bench who was hearing the signature forgery matter. The judge had listed the matter to be heard on Thursday. Later, some emissaries of Abhishek came to me to say that a separate writ has been filed on the CID raid issue. I was taken aback since I had no knowledge of it,” Kalyan told reporters.
He alleged that when he questioned why he was not taken into confidence, he was told the decision was taken “on directions from the top”.
“Had I known about this, I wouldn’t have mentioned the matter before the judge because two separate benches cannot hear the same matter. Abhishek has many advisors, and so I have told the party I would not represent him in any court cases in future, as it is impossible to deal with such arrogance and fluctuating mindset. I was later informed that a junior lawyer would contest his cases,” Kalyan said.
The Sreerampur MP also criticised Abhishek, saying the younger leader showed “no respect” for his “45-year professional experience”.
“I am not to be treated like a dustbin or an employee of his Camac Street office,” Kalyan asserted.
Kalyan said the decision over the party’s future leadership now rests with Mamata Banerjee.
“I will remain in this party only if Abhishek is removed from all leadership positions and retained only as an ordinary worker. Abhishek, who misbehaves with seniors and has an attitude of a boss, cannot be my leader in the party. It will not be possible for me to remain in the TMC, if he remains the leader,” he said.
“Didi (Mamata Banerjee) must take the final call on whether she will retain her blood relative or workers like me who have put in 40 years of our lives for her and this party,” he added.