West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday dismissed criticism of Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee from leaders exiting the party, saying those invoking his name as a reason for leaving were simply looking for an excuse.
Her response came shortly after senior TMC leader and Kamarhati MLA Madan Mitra resigned from the Mamata Banerjee-led party and joined the rebel Trinamool Congress faction headed by Ritabrata Banerjee, adding to signs of widening divisions within the organisation.
Addressing the developments, Mamata Banerjee stood firmly behind Abhishek Banerjee and rejected allegations made against him by leaders who have chosen to quit the party.
“Those who are using Abhishek as an excuse to leave the party are only making excuses. Abhishek is still fighting and continues to stand by the people. There is no point in hiding behind such excuses," she said.
The Chief Minister also referred to the period when central investigative agencies questioned members of Abhishek Banerjee's family, saying they had not been intimidated by the investigations.
“When the ED and the CBI summoned Abhishek’s wife, she went to the CBI office with their one-and-a-half-year-old child. They did not back down out of fear at that time," she said.
Mamata Banerjee further said she had played a key role in nurturing successive generations of party leaders and intended to continue doing so.
“I have built three generations of leadership on this issue, and I will continue to build future generations. He still has the ability to stand firm and fight," she said.
Speaking about the party's Shahid Diwas programme, she said the court had permitted the gathering to be held in front of Birla Planetarium on July 21. According to her, supporters had been asked to assemble from 11 am, with the event scheduled to continue until 3 pm.
She also had a message for leaders choosing to leave the party.
“Those who have left because they are afraid of the central agencies are free to do so. It will make no difference to the party. The party will continue to function as it has been," she said.
Earlier in the day, Mitra formally quit the Trinamool Congress and joined the breakaway faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee.
After switching camps, the veteran leader sought to minimise the significance of the move, remarking that he had “only changed room in the Assembly."
Mitra accused the party leadership of becoming excessively focused on Abhishek Banerjee and claimed he had earlier urged him to step away from active leadership for a limited period.
“I had suggested to Abhishek Banerjee that he step aside for six months or a year. I told him, let us build the party, and then you can come back and take your seat, but he refused. He said, I won’t leave the party. The party is sinking; the boat has gone under. People are dying. Yet, the party decided, or rather it was forced to accept, that everyone else could die, but Abhishek had to be saved. It is deeply saddening," Mitra said.
He further alleged that the Trinamool Congress no longer reflected the interests of all its members and had become centred around a single leader.
“The party belongs to everyone, yet it seems to have been reduced to serving only Abhishek. I earnestly request Mamata ji to come. Let us view this as a marathon. We will surely cross paths along the way. Let us see which horse surges ahead," he said.
Announcing his resignation, Mitra said he had relinquished every post within the Trinamool Congress while retaining his position in the West Bengal Assembly.
“I have resigned from all the positions. Though I remain an MLA. I have left everything associated with Trinamool. That means I am no longer a Trinamool MLA in the functional sense," he said.
His resignation came a day after the Enforcement Directorate summoned his wife and two sons in connection with the alleged municipal recruitment scam.
Mitra's exit marks the latest political setback for Mamata Banerjee as the Trinamool Congress grapples with internal unrest following its comprehensive defeat to the BJP in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
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