Former TMC Minority Cell Leader Levels Serious Allegations Against Abhishek Banerjee After Resignation

Kolkata, June 2026: Days after resigning from all positions in the Trinamool Congress (TMC), including his role as West Bengal Secretary of the party’s Minority Cell, Mohammed Ajmal Siddique launched a scathing attack on the party leadership, alleging that he was compelled to join the ruling outfit due to fear of TMC General Secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee.

Speaking after his resignation, Siddique claimed that his association with the party was not voluntary and stemmed from circumstances that, according to him, made it difficult to continue business activities in West Bengal without political backing.

Siddique alleged that during 2015-16, he faced pressure from individuals associated with Abhishek Banerjee while he was engaged in business activities. He claimed that demands for money were made on behalf of the TMC leader and that his refusal resulted in legal troubles and the filing of false cases against him. According to Siddique, he was subsequently compelled to seek relief from higher courts, including the Supreme Court and the High Court.

The former TMC functionary asserted that joining the ruling party became necessary to continue both his business and social welfare activities. He alleged that individuals attempting to operate independently often faced harassment and administrative hurdles.

“I joined the party because I was afraid of Abhishek Banerjee,” Siddique claimed, while describing what he termed an atmosphere of intimidation within the organisation.

Launching a broader criticism of the party’s internal functioning, Siddique accused Abhishek Banerjee of centralising power and fostering a style of leadership that, in his view, alienated grassroots workers. He alleged that party leaders and workers often found it difficult to directly communicate with the TMC’s second-in-command and instead had to route their concerns through intermediaries.

Despite his criticism of the party’s organisational structure, Siddique was careful to distinguish between Abhishek Banerjee and TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He described Mamata Banerjee as a “fighter” and credited her for her dedication to public work.

However, Siddique argued that the influence of Abhishek Banerjee and political consultancy firm I-PAC had weakened the party and created difficulties for its leadership. According to him, decision-making within the organisation had become increasingly concentrated, reducing the role of traditional party workers.

The former Minority Cell Secretary also alleged that the position he held carried little real authority and did not allow him to effectively address issues concerning the Muslim community. He claimed that the post existed largely in name and that meaningful engagement with minority-related concerns was limited.

Siddique further alleged that Muslims had been treated primarily as a vote bank by the party and accused the leadership of relying on fear-based political messaging to retain support among minority communities.

In a notable political shift, Siddique expressed confidence in senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, saying he hoped Adhikari would work for people irrespective of religious identity and pursue an inclusive approach to governance.

He also offered praise for certain policies associated with the BJP, arguing that some decisions had helped maintain social harmony. Siddique suggested that the BJP was performing well politically and administratively in areas where it had influence.

When asked about the possibility of joining the BJP, Siddique indicated that he would be open to such a move if an opportunity arose. He maintained that his commitment to social work would continue but added that meaningful public service often requires political support and organisational backing.

His remarks are likely to intensify political debate in West Bengal, where tensions between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP remain high ahead of future electoral contests. The allegations, however, remain Siddique’s claims and have not been independently verified.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)