‘Will express grievances in constructive manner’: TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee apologises for criticising party colleagues

A senior leader of TMC said, “The party’s top leadership was not happy about Kalyan’s statement. That is why Kalyan was forced to seek an apology.”

An MP from the Serampore Lok Sabha constituency and a member of the TMC’s disciplinary committee, Kalyan Banerjee, had said on Saturday, “I am here because Didi (Mamata Banerjee) is here. Otherwise, I would quit (the party). After seeing the conduct and behaviour of Didi’s ministers, I no longer want to stay in the party.”

The controversy started after Education Minister Bratya Basu changed the formation of TMC’s state education cell. Some leaders like Maidul Islam and Sonali Banerjee were removed from the cell, following which they stated that they were removed because they were “close” to Mamata’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee.

Citing this, Kalyan had said, “Those people are not doing the right thing. I want to convey to those people via the media that they should restrain themselves from this comment otherwise Abhishek’s position will not be very good in the party.” He then added, “They should understand whatever decision was taken was under the direction of Mamata Banerjee.”

Senior members of the state cabinet expressed their displeasure at Kalyan’s statement, as per TMC sources. TMC leader and parliamentary affairs minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay said, “If he sees my behaviour and he does not want to be in the party, then I will leave the party. I won’t stay if my behaviour feels bad or if someone else is affected. I consider myself as a lower level leader and never tried to distance myself from the soil.”