TMC's plan of going national will be different from past: Abhishek Banerjee

Holding his first ever political press conference at Trinamool Bhavan here, Abhishek, the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, stated the TMC will not open its unit in other states just to contest elections or be in the Opposition space but to form the government.

In strong words, the number two man in the TMC said, "Within the next two-three weeks or maximum one month, we will come out with a concrete plan of what Trinamool wants to do and which are the states where we want to start our unit in and what is our expansion plan. But make no mistake, let me put this on record, when we come out with a plan, this attempt of Trinamool going national is going to be very different from what Trinamool had attempted in the past.

"If we go to any state, be it the smallest or largest, we will go not just to contest elections or to win one or two seats or to increase vote share but to win the state. We want to be the platform of choice to the people of that state. We don't want to exist in the form of Opposition or three-four-five MLAs. Whichever state we plan to start our unit in, we will take BJP head on," the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha MP added.

In a major shift in the administrative order of the party post landslide win in assembly polls, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee elevated Abhishek to the National General Secretary's post.

Post appointment, several BJP leaders went hamour and tongs to accuse the ruling party of West Bengal of encouraging dynasty politics, much like Congress from which it was formed.

Hitting back at the saffron camp, Abhishek challenged the BJP leaders to pass a law in Parliament barring more than one person from a family from entering politics.

He said, "I can request Mr. Malviya (BJP leader) to take the cab, drive and go to the houses of his bosses in Lutyens Delhi, make a bill that every family will have one representative and nobody else will be allowed to enter politics or any public office for that matter. What is stopping them from executing it? They have the numbers.

"I will be the first person to resign... Preach what you practice. They talk about dynasties and they accept dynasty turncoats (to their party)! And why are they so rattled, confused, bewildered and perplexed by my appointment?"

"It is better to be a dynasty than nasty," the former TMC youth wing president added.

Abhishek has also stated he won't be holding any ministerial post for the next 20 years, in his counter to the dynast tag. 

"I'm saying on record that for the next 20 years, I do not have any interest in taking up a ministerial post. I challenge - with grace and humility - can Jay Shah come out and say I do not wish to be the BCCI President for the next 20 years?" the 33-year-old politician said. 

West Bengal politics witnessed a meteoric rise of Abhishek, who was attacked by BJP leaders none less than Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the 2021 Assembly Elections, since 2014.

In 2014, Abhishek became the Lok Sabha MP from Diamond Harbour constituency for the first time and he was re-elected by a record margin of votes in 2019.

It is believed that Abhishek brought a slew of reforms in the TMC since the party suffered a setback in the 2019 General Elections.