Abhishek dares Suvendu to 'pledge BJP loyalty', says he will 'quit party first' if it loses power

Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee on Friday launched a sharp attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, claiming that he would be the first to leave the BJP if the party lost power in the state after five years.

The Diamond Harbour MP challenged Adhikari to sign an affidavit declaring that he would remain with the BJP permanently, accusing the Chief Minister of changing political parties for personal advantage.

"If the BJP is not in power after five years, the first person to leave would be Suvendu Adhikari, and that is why the B-team led by Ritabrata Banerjee was formed," Abhishek alleged while speaking to reporters.

He referred to Adhikari's political journey from the Congress to the TMC and subsequently to the BJP, comparing his changes in allegiance to switching mobile network operators.

"I have never changed my allegiance to the Trinamool Congress," Abhishek said, adding, "Let Adhikari state in an affidavit that he will stay with the BJP forever."

𝗔𝗯𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗸 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗕𝗝𝗣'𝘀 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀

The TMC leader also questioned Adhikari's recent assertion that the BJP government would secure at least 275 votes if a confidence motion were held in the West Bengal Assembly.

The BJP had won 209 seats in the 294-member Assembly, while the TMC secured 80 seats. Adhikari's claim of additional support was understood to refer to 64 legislators belonging to the Ritabrata Banerjee faction, which broke away from the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC following the elections.

"Where is the question of floor test coming from? It is because he knows this government is temporary," Abhishek said.

He alleged that the formation of the breakaway faction was politically motivated and linked it to what he described as Adhikari's uncertainty about the BJP's long-term prospects in the state.

𝗧𝗠𝗖 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀

Abhishek accused Adhikari of using central investigative agencies, including the CBI, Enforcement Directorate and National Investigation Agency, against TMC leaders when the BJP was in the opposition.

He claimed that despite pressure from investigative agencies and political opponents, the TMC had refused to surrender its political position.

"We do not have any such entity with us, but we have not bowed down as we are true Bengalis. Instead of being a pet dog of Delhi, it is much more respectable to live as a Royal Bengal tiger," he said.

The MP also alleged that his 12-year-old daughter had received rape threats and that TMC offices had been vandalised during political confrontations.

He accused the Chief Minister of being preoccupied with attacking him in public speeches, describing Adhikari's criticism as "Trinamool phobia".

𝗔𝗴𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲

Responding to Adhikari's suggestion that former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should retire because of her age, Abhishek said the argument could also be interpreted as criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mamata is 71, while Modi is 76, he pointed out, questioning the reasoning behind the Chief Minister's remarks.

"He may have been prompted by some leaders from Delhi to target the PM regarding his age," Abhishek said.

He also contrasted his own age with Adhikari's, claiming that the political balance between them would change over the next five years.

"After five years, you will be 61 years old, while I will be 43-44 years old. Your strength will deplete while mine will increase," he said.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱𝘆 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘄𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗺

Abhishek also targeted the Chief Minister over the October 17 stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, which claimed 19 lives.

He alleged that Adhikari's nephew, Devdeep Adhikari, was the chief patron of the puja committee associated with the event and questioned the government's handling of the tragedy.

The TMC MP claimed that Adhikari had stopped referring to him as "Bhaipo", or nephew, following the incident. BJP leaders had frequently used the term to target Abhishek without naming him directly.

Abhishek said he had never witnessed a fatal stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in nearly four decades and urged Adhikari, who also holds the Home portfolio, to take responsibility for maintaining law and order.

He further alleged that the Chief Minister feared the political consequences of a future change in government, claiming that his nephew could face imprisonment. The allegations were not independently established.

𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗿-𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

The Diamond Harbour MP also raised questions about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, referring to reports concerning appeals against the inclusion of nearly 16 lakh names on the voter list.

He cited reports that Subrata Gupta, an adviser to the Chief Minister who had served as an observer during the revision exercise, had denied knowing who authorised the appeals.

The Election Commission had informed the Supreme Court on Monday that the appeals were filed by election officials in the state.

The issue has become another flashpoint between the BJP and TMC, with opposition leaders alleging irregularities and targeted disenfranchisement during the revision process. The Election Commission has maintained that the exercise was conducted under the prescribed procedures.

Abhishek also accused the BJP of attempting to impose North Indian cultural practices on Bengal at the expense of the state's traditions.

He said he would expand his political outreach beyond Diamond Harbour and visit Kanthi in Purba Medinipur, Adhikari's home region, signalling that the confrontation between the two leaders would continue beyond their public exchanges.

Adhikari, meanwhile, separately challenged Abhishek on Friday to contest against him in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, intensifying the political rivalry between the ruling BJP and the opposition TMC.