West Bengal’s former Chief Minister (CM) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee launched a verbal attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, amid escalating internal tensions within her party following MLA Madan Mitra’s decision to join a rebel faction.

Addressing the political turmoil, Banerjee said those who wished to leave TMC were free to do so, but warned the BJP over what she termed ‘an attempt to weaken her leadership.’ Claiming that the BJP wanted her to suffer a heart attack, the TMC Chief said, “BJP wished for me to get a heart attack, but I will live till I see your end.”

Her remarks came shortly after Mitra shifted his allegiance from the Mamata-led faction to the rebel group headed by Ritabrata Banerjee, intensifying the internal crisis within the ruling party.

Madan Mitra joins forces with rebel camp, cites unfulfilled demand

A senior TMC MLA, named Madan Mitra, announced his move to the rebel faction on Wednesday, saying that he had merely changed his position within the Assembly.

Shedding light on his decision, Mitra claimed that he left the party after his demand for TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee to ‘step aside for six months’ was not accepted.

The development has compounded the challenges being faced by the TMC, with the party now dealing with open dissent from some of its members.

Mamata defends Abhishek Banerjee

Reacting to Mitra’s exit, Mamata defended her nephew and party leader Abhishek Banerjee, saying he had nothing to do with the MLA’s decision.

She alleged that Mitra’s shift was linked to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoning his wife and two sons on Tuesday, and said Abhishek had become a convenient target for attacks against the party.

During a Facebook Live session on Wednesday, the TMC Chief said repeated summons issued to Abhishek and his kin had failed to weaken his political resolve. She said, “Abhishek Banerjee has been turned into an excuse. His family members were summoned. Had he wanted, he could have gotten relief. But he did not flee from the battlefield.”

Lauding his continuous political fight, Mamata further said Abhishek had earned respect by refusing to compromise despite pressure.