TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh on Sunday expressed confidence in West Bengal CM, affirming her continuity as “Chief Minister until 2036”, followed by her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, taking the charge, reports The Indian Express.
Ghosh highlighted the unity within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) under Mamata’s guidance, ridiculing BJP’s internal factions and urging clarity on their leadership direction.
Also Read:‘Maligning Bengal’s image’: Mamata Banerjee denies ‘link’ to Parliament breach ‘mastermind’ Lalit Jha
Condemning the opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari, he said, “The BJP has to decide if Suvendu Adhikari’s BJP or Sukanta Majumdar’s BJP or Dilip Ghosh’s BJP will fight against the TMC. Let them decide first. There will be a fight under Abhishek Banerjee and under Mamatadi’s leadership. Mamata Banerjee will be the chief minister till 2036, then Abhishek Banerjee will be the CM.”
Sukanta Majumdar leads the state BJP, while Dilip Ghosh serves as the BJP’s all India general secretary.
Recently, Kunal Ghosh sparked controversy by highlighting the absence of TMC’s number two, Abhishek Banerjee’s photo at a Kolkata party meeting. Ghosh, a close associate of Abhishek, clarified it wasn’t a clash between the “old and the new” within the party.
Also Read:Security breach in Lok Sabha on Parliament attack anniversary, 2 held | WATCH Video
He stressed on the synergy between Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek and said that both are crucial for the party. Ghosh mentioned Abhishek’s indispensable role in TMC programs, stating, “The party needs both of them… However, I feel any major TMC programme can’t be held without Abhishek Banerjee. As he could not attend the meeting due to his health, his photo should have been put on display.”
A senior TMC leader clarified that Ghosh’s aim wasn’t to predict Mamata Banerjee’s prolonged rule but to underscore Abhishek Banerjee as the party’s future chief.
However, this received backlash from Opposition parties who criticised TMC, alleging it favoured monarchy over democracy. Sujan Chakraborty of the Communist Party accused TMC of holding monarchic beliefs, contrasting it with West Bengal’s democratic values.
In response, BJP’s Samik Bhattacharya downplayed Ghosh’s statements, suggesting that in a party like TMC, Abhishek Banerjee could potentially rise as the next leader. He challenged Ghosh to first address TMC’s integrity beyond 2025 before discussing its potential to retain power until 2036.