Kalyan Banerjee withdraws from representing Abhishek, accuses him of arrogance

The rift within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) seemingly widened on Thursday (June 11) after senior party MP and veteran lawyer Kalyan Banerjee withdrew from representing Abhishek Banerjee in the alleged forged-signature case and launched a sharp attack on the party’s national general secretary.

Withdrawal before hearing

Kalyan was scheduled to appear on behalf of Abhishek before the Calcutta High Court, where the TMC leader had sought relief in connection with the CID probe into allegations that signatures of party MLAs were forged on a letter submitted to the Assembly.

Also Read: Calcutta HC grants Abhishek Banerjee interim protection in signature forgery case

However, before the hearing commenced, the Serampore MP stepped away from the case. Advocate Ayan Bhattacharya subsequently represented Abhishek. Kalyan Banerjee’s son, Shirshanya Banerjee, along with other junior lawyers associated with the legal team, also withdrew from the matter.

According to local media reports, Kalyan Banerjee accused Abhishek of displaying an arrogant attitude despite efforts made by him to secure an urgent hearing in the case.

‘What arrogance!’

“I have given up Abhishek’s case. What arrogance! Yesterday (Wednesday) I mentioned his case before the court. I also raised the issue of the CID visiting Mamata Banerjee’s residence. For some reason, the court did not hear the matter yesterday. We requested Justice Kaushik Chanda to hear it on an urgent basis. The hearing was scheduled for today (Thursday),” said Kalyan.

Also Read: TMC No. 2 Abhishek roughed up in Bengal, rushed to hospital: 'They want to kill me'

Kalyan said he decided to withdraw after learning late on Wednesday night that another lawyer would argue the matter.

“At 12:30 last night, my son received a call saying that Ayan, a junior, would argue the case. I have made it clear that I will not stay associated with him (Abhishek). I have been in this profession for 45 years. I will not accept this arrogant attitude. I will tell Mamata Banerjee: either keep Abhishek and let us go, or keep us and remove Abhishek,” he added.

Kalyan slams Abhishek

The senior TMC MP also held Abhishek responsible for the party’s current state.

“The party has been finished because of him. Even now, the arrogance hasn’t gone away.”

While several TMC MPs and MLAs have publicly questioned Abhishek Banerjee’s leadership in recent weeks, Kalyan had until now remained firmly aligned with the party leadership and had regularly defended Mamata Banerjee against internal critics.