Mamata Banerjee rallied behind Abhishek Banerjee amid TMC rebellion

Addressing party workers in a video message on Facebook, former West Bengal and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee apologized “on behalf of the ‘traitors’ who sided with the BJP. | Photo credit: PTI

Trinamool Congress president and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday (July 12, 2026) defended her nephew and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, saying he continued to “fight like a tiger” despite facing a barrage of cases.

“They (rebels) are using Abhishek Banerjee as an excuse. His family members were called. If he wanted, he could have been relieved. But he did not run away from the battlefield. The way he continued to fight even if he made some mistake, he should be forgiven. He is fighting like a tiger,” Ms Banerjee said during a live address on social media.

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Strongest public support

The remarks are seen as her strongest public endorsement of Mr Banerjee since the Trinamool Congress insurgency, when most MPs and MLAs deserted Ms Banerjee.

Her comments came at a time when Mr. Banerjee is being blamed for the party’s loss in the recently concluded West Bengal assembly elections. Several party leaders, including MPs and MLAs, blamed the Diamond Harbor MPs for their decision to part ways with Ms Banerjee.

Ms Banerjee was speaking on the day Mr Banerjee provided his voice sample in a case alleging he had made inflammatory statements during the assembly election campaign.

“The Police Are Being Used”

She argued that central agencies had become tools for dismantling the opposition. “The BJP is using the police to break the Trinamool. They are using fear and threats to dismantle the municipal bodies,” she alleged.

A senior Trinamool Congress leader described the rebel leaders as a “set-up company” and claimed that they were afraid of the ED and the CBI. “Those who have a setup are joining the BJP washing machine. Those MLAs and MPs who have joined the ‘setting society’ have done so because they are afraid. Don’t lie. You can go if you want. Go join the BJP washing machine,” she said.

The former chief minister challenged the BJP and said she will not die until she defeats the party. Talking about her long political journey, including a stint in 2004 when she was the party’s lone MP in the Lok Sabha, she said she could start afresh. “No one can stop me. If I could start again after 2004, then I can start again after 2026,” she said.

“My conscience is not sold”

Launching a scathing attack on the rebels, Ms Banerjee said: “I apologize to the people on behalf of the traitors. I did not sell my ‘bibek’ (conscience) for political survival. If I had compromised, we would not have faced so much torture.”

Ms Banerjee called on her supporters to attend a public meeting outside the Birla Planetarium on July 21 and touched on a number of issues, including the Baruipur rape and murder case, the eviction of shopkeepers and the state government’s proposal to provide egg-free mid-day meals in Kolkata schools.

She also expressed solidarity with climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, saying she spoke to him during his ongoing indefinite hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET (UG) 2026 and other exams.

Published – 15 Jul 2026 18:47 IST