 chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday responded to the defection of senior leader Madan Mitra){kind=link}
The TMC chief dismissed concerns over Madan Mitra’s exit, defended Abhishek Banerjee, and accused the BJP of targeting her party.
July 15, 2026: Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday responded to the defection of senior leader Madan Mitra, who joined the rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee. Addressing the development, Mamata said, “Those who want to go can go,” while also launching a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She alleged that the BJP wanted her to suffer a heart attack but asserted that she would continue her political fight.
Reacting to Mitra’s allegations against Abhishek Banerjee, Mamata dismissed the claims and said his decision to leave the party was linked to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoning his wife and two sons. She maintained that Abhishek had no role in Mitra’s exit from the party.
Defending Abhishek Banerjee, Mamata said he had repeatedly faced investigations involving himself and his family but had continued to fight politically instead of seeking relief through compromise. She praised his commitment to the party and said he had become an easy target for critics attempting to weaken the Trinamool Congress amid the ongoing internal political crisis.