Abhishek Banerjee Switching To BJP? 'Not Even If They Slit My Throat', Replies Trinamool MP

Will Abhishek Banerjee-the nephew of Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, as well as her closest aide-join the BJP just months before the 2026 Assembly election?

"Not even if one were to slit my neck," the Lok Sabha MP declared on Thursday.

Photo Credit: PTI

"People are spreading rumours that Abhishek Banerjee will go to BJP... I am not beimaan (traitor). Those who say I am crossing to the BJP... even if they slit my throat, I will continue to raise the 'Mamata Banerjee zindabad' slogan from my severed windpipe," he said angrily.

Speaking at a gathering of senior Trinamool leaders in Kolkata, Banerjee claimed to know who was behind these rumours, directly naming former Trinamool leaders Mukul Roy and Suvendu Adhikari, reported NDTV.

"They have vested interests ahead of next year's election," he said, branding Roy and Adhikari as "traitors" and vowing to expose them once again.

Banerjee also criticised the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over its latest charge sheet in the alleged teachers' recruitment scam. Like many opposition leaders, he accused the central agency- which reports to the government-of "acting at the behest of its political masters".

He pointed out that the charge sheet does not actually name him as an accused.

"I find it amusing the CBI is so scared it is pointing fingers in an indirect manner. They do not have a shred of evidence. I said this five years ago and I say it again: If you can produce a single piece of evidence (and) prove it in court... I will willingly walk up and hang myself."

Banerjee had first made that claim in September 2021 in response to allegations of money laundering linked to the Enforcement Directorate's probe into coal theft.

His statements carry significance as he has been largely absent from the Trinamool Congress' recent political campaigns and attacks on the BJP. Instead, he has reportedly been focusing on social welfare and development projects in his constituency-Diamond Harbour in Kolkata.

Returning to the forefront, Banerjee also issued a warning to potential dissenters within the party who might be conspiring with the BJP to weaken the Trinamool ahead of the state elections.

"Those who engage in conspiracy will come under attack... we will not leave an inch of space to our opponents. There was a campaign against Trinamool in 2024 (before the Lok Sabha election, during which the BJP and Trinamool had bitter political clashes)..."

Referring to the Sandeshkhali case-where suspended Trinamool leader Sheikh Shahjahan was accused of sexually harassing multiple women-and the RG Kar case, involving the rape and murder of a junior doctor at a Kolkata hospital, he claimed, "They tried to defame Bengal. But we gave them an answer..."

The Trinamool Congress went on to win 29 of West Bengal's 42 Lok Sabha seats in 2024-an increase of seven from 2019.

Banerjee also urged party workers to remain steadfast in their support, declaring, "Till the time all of you are with us, we will continue to demolish BJP's 'chakravyuh' (military formation)."

(With agency inputs)