Tensions Erupt Within Trinamool as MP Kalyan Banerjee Targets TMCP President Trinankur Bhattacharya Over ‘Threat Culture’ Allegations

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, Kolkata, November 18, 2024 : A fresh wave of internal tension has erupted within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) following a sharp public attack by party MP Kalyan Banerjee on Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) President Trinankur Bhattacharya. In a fiery address during the Domjur Utsav, Kalyan accused Trinankur of failing to support suspended medical students who have been allegedly facing a "threat culture" instigated by the Left and far-left factions. He also demanded Trinankur’s removal from his post, citing the TMCP’s lack of action in standing by these students.

Kalyan Banerjee’s comments have sent shockwaves through the party, particularly as he accused Trinankur of neglecting the plight of the medical students while also allowing an environment of fear and intimidation to fester. “A section of medical students is suffering under a threat culture propagated by the Left and far-left groups, and yet Trinamool did not stand by them. This failure is unacceptable, and I am calling for Trinankur Bhattacharya’s immediate removal from the post of TMCP President,” Banerjee stated.

In his speech, Banerjee emphasized that he, along with TMC leader Kunal Ghosh, had actively supported the suspended medical students and played a key role in addressing their concerns, especially when the party and its youth wing appeared to be indifferent to their crisis.

The attack has raised serious questions within the Trinamool Congress. Is the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad beginning to fracture? Are internal party factions becoming more vocal in their opposition to the current leadership? Sources within the party suggest that the so-called "anti-Trinamool lobby" has been quietly gaining ground for some time. With allegations of factionalism mounting, there are growing concerns that the party leadership, especially Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, may now be under pressure from within its own ranks.

Some party insiders believe that Kalyan Banerjee’s remarks, coupled with accusations of division within the TMCP, have provided new momentum to the anti-establishment faction within Trinamool. The ongoing infighting, some argue, is being exacerbated by the leadership's handling of the TMCP and its lack of clear support for students in distress.

In a pointed response, former TMCP leader Rajnya Halder, who was removed from the organization, weighed in on the controversy. Halder criticized Kalyan Banerjee’s comments, asserting that many of the leaders now raising concerns about the TMCP's lack of support for medical students were themselves absent during the crisis. “It is easy for Kalyan Banerjee to demand a resignation when he and others were not there to support the junior doctors during their time of need. If anyone should be credited for fighting for these students, it’s Prantik Chakraborty, not Kalyan or anyone else,” Halder said.

This public spat has underscored a growing rift within the Trinamool Congress, with various factions now openly airing their grievances. While the leadership of Mamata Banerjee remains dominant, the party is facing increasing scrutiny as these internal divisions become more apparent.

As the situation unfolds, the questions surrounding the future of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad, the role of Trinankur Bhattacharya, and the influence of the anti-Trinamool lobby will continue to dominate the political discourse in West Bengal.

The incident has also raised broader concerns about the ability of the Trinamool leadership to maintain unity within its ranks, especially as the party gears up for future electoral battles. How Mamata Banerjee responds to these growing calls for change and accountability will likely determine the trajectory of the party in the coming months.