Kolkata: In a candid message to the Congress, Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday said his party will stand by the AAP, instead of the Congress, as AAP has the capability of defeating the BJP in New Delhi. Admitting that there was “infighting” within the Trinamool, he clarified that “factionalism was a natural symptom when a political party is undergoing growth”. In the first two weeks of January 2025, two Trinamool leaders were shot dead in Malda and several others injured.“When we formed the INDIA bloc, we had agreed to follow one decision. We all had supported that decision. Those who are powerful in one region, all other parties will support them. In Bengal, Trinamool Congress is powerful. So, Congress, SP, AAP, NCP and all other alliance partners of INDIA will stand by Trinamool in the state,” Banerjee said. This theory of regional parties being favoured was proposed by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee during the INDIA bloc meetings. However, subsequently, there was a breach between the Congress and Trinamool Congress over various issues.“In New Delhi, the AAP government had won 67 of the 70 seats. Where Congress is powerful, we will stand by them. Likewise, where DMK or any other party is powerful —the stand remains clear. Who do you think is powerful in Delhi? Is it Congress or AAP, who should we support? Atishi is the AAP CM now after Arvind Kejriwal resigned,” Abhishek Banerjee said. “We will support the party which is using its sole strength against BJP.”“Since our aim is to defeat BJP, why will we make the power against the BJP weak? Otherwise, it will benefit BJP,” Banerjee said.
Trinamool Factionalism
Addressing the elephant in the room –– the infighting and factionalism within for Trinamool Congress –– Banerjee said: “Factionalism is natural when a party is growing. When CPI-M was in power, was there no infighting? Is there no infighting in the BJP?” He was interacting with the media interaction in South 24-Parganas’ Falta, where he has been running health camps in areas under his Lok Sabha constituency. In just 10 days, the Sebaashray health camps in the Diamond Harbour assembly constituency have served over 2.7 lakh people.“Internal rifts occur when a party grows. Internal conflicts exist among families also. With lakhs of office-bearers at various levels, and over 50,000 elected representatives at the panchayat-level, it is normal to have rifts within them,” he noted.Giving a stern message to party workers, he said: “If anyone believes that they have become too powerful or above the party, the disciplinary committee will take action. The party’s disciplinary committee has always taken action against those who violated party discipline. There will be no exception in future. The state leadership is looking into it and the chairperson has given directives. He was speaking about Tuesday’s Malda incident where a Trinamool worker was brutally killed and two others critically injured. “People have elected us and we have to work for them. Some people are there who think no one is greater than them. The doors of the Trinamool will be closed for them in the coming days. We need to be humble and approach people with folded hands. Those who think they can take control of an area and run the party will face trouble,” Banerjee said. Abhishek iterated that Trinamool maintained a zero-tolerance policy for any leader involved in illegal activities. EOM words 555