TMC news highlights: Abhishek Banerjee interrogated for over 6 hours, rebel camp leader calls for floor test

TMC news LIVE updates: Here are some of the key highlights of the day:

• The West Bengal CID on Tuesday interrogated Abhishek Banerjeein for over six hours in connection with his alleged inflammatory statements made during the Assembly election campaigning.
• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will hear the defected TMC MPs as also the faction led by Mamata Banerjee before deciding on giving recognition to the breakaway faction even as the NCPI, the party which the rebel faction will join, has named Jyotiprakash Chatterji as its new president.
• A protest programme organised by the wife of arrested TMC leader Jahangir Khan near Falta police station in South 24 Parganas district was dispersed by police and central force personnel.
• Amid the ongoing TMC crisis, expelled party leader Ritabrata Banerjee has called for a floor test in the West Bengal Assembly, asserting that such a move would put an end to ongoing debates and claims.
• Meanwhile, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar has claimed that the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) has agreed to accept the joining of all the dissident Lok Sabha members of her party, whose numbers are likely to go up to 22 from the present 20.
• Another Trinamool Congress leader Soumitra Banerjee became the target of protestors as several people hurled multiple eggs at Soumitra as soon as he stepped out after he was arrested on a complaint by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ravi Keshari accusing him of attacking BJP workers.

TMC news LIVE updates: West Bengal Minister Tapas Roy on Tuesday called the repeated egg attack on its party leaders as a "natural course of events". Speaking to ANI, Roy refused to comment on the issue, stressing that such events were "bound to happen". He added that despite separate party affiliations, everyone should work towards development.

"I have no comment on that matter. Look at the work itself; while party affiliations may differ, everyone must work together for the sake of development. People have joined the TMC. As for what is happening with Mamata and the Trinamool, this is exactly what was bound to happen. It is the natural course of events," Roy told ANI.

TMC news LIVE updates: A protest organised by the wife of arrested TMC leader Jahangir Khan near Falta police station in South 24 Parganas district was dispersed by police and central force personnel on Tuesday. Police said the forces resorted to a baton charge to disperse the crowd that had gathered near the police station. Some members of the crowd reportedly jumped into a nearby pond to escape the baton charge, the official said. (PTI)

TMC news LIVE updates: The West Bengal CID interrogated TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjeein for over six hours in connection with his alleged inflammatory statements made during the assembly election, PTI reported. Banerjee, who reached the CID headquarters 'Bhavani Bhavan' in Kolkata shortly before noon, came out of the state probe agency's office at around 6.25 pm, an official said. After coming out of the agency office, Banerjee avoided taking questions from journalists and went to TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee's Kalighat residence.

TMC news LIVE updates: Amidst the political tussle within the TMC, expelled party leader Ritabrata Banerjee backed the idea of a floor test in the West Bengal Assembly, asserting that such a move would put an end to ongoing debates and claims. "I am saying this because people outside are making so many statements, and the media is also showing immense interest in these remarks. So, my message to everyone is that if the Speaker feels a floor test needs to happen, let there be a floor test. Once the floor test takes place, all this endless rhetoric and cross-talk will come to an end," Banerjee told ANI.

TMC news LIVE updates: TMC MPs Kalyan Banerjee and Dola Sen arrive at party chief Mamata Banerjee's Kalighat residence.

TMC news LIVE updates: Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday evening left CID headquarters at Bhawani Bhawan in Kolkata after questioning regarding cases involving alleged signature forgery and inflammatory statements.

TMC news LIVE updates: The political battle within the TMC intensified on Tuesday, with its rebel faction hinting that its strength could rise to 22 Lok Sabha MPs even as rival camps traded barbs over legitimacy, leadership and the party's future. Rebel MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar on Tuesday claimed that the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) was ready to take in all the dissident TMC Lok Sabha members, and that the group's strength could increase to 22 from the current 20 MPs.

"Acceptance has already come to us. They (NCPI) are happy to take us. We will work together with the NDA under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah," Dastidar told reporters in the Parliament complex.

TMC news LIVE updates: TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee on Tuesday hit out at Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar's complaint against him to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and called it her ‘personal bias’. Responding to the rebel leader's allegations, Banerjee said, "If I am a habitual offender, did I do anything to you? Did I ever insult you? I have been in the legal profession for around 40 years. Someone who does not even come to the Parliament is speaking against me. This is her personal bias." When asked about the legal notice by Dastidar's son, he said, “I have not got it.”

TMC news LIVE updates: The NCPI, which has came into spotlight after the TMC rebel Lok Sabha faction's merger with it, has named Jyotiprakash Chatterji as its new president, according to Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar. Ghosh Dastidar's statement came a day after Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) founder Shewli Kundu told reporters that she had stepped down as the NCPI chief. Responding to a query from PTI on Tuesday, Ghosh Dastidar said Chatterji is the new president of NCPI.

TMC news LIVE updates: Responding to Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar's complaint against him to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said, "The complaint is false, frivolous and after-thought. Complaint is completely vague in character. After 6th May, she had kept her distance from the party. I was appointed as the chief whip, letter was addressed and thereafter she had initially tried to create issues and tried to join another political party. So, this complaint has been made motivatedly with a political goal and with a view to malign me. This is a political malice."
Rebel TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar had filed a complaint to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking expulsion of Kalyan Banerjee for repeated verbal abuse and misogynistic comments.

TMC news LIVE updates: Trinamool youth leader Soumitra Banerjee on Tuesday was allegedly attacked with eggs while being taken to court by police.

Police brought the situation under control and safely escorted Banerjee to court.

Soumitra Banerjee was arrested based on a complaint by BJP leader Ravi Keshari. He is accused of attacking BJP workers.

On Monday, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh was also attacked with eggs by a local youth.

He said "this kind of incident" cannot stop him and he had given a complaint to the Police Commissioner.

Kunal Ghosh stated that he had gone to Mamata Banerjee's residence to attend a meeting and termed the incident "unfortunate".

TMC news LIVE updates: TMC rebel MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay, who is one of the 20 rebels merging with Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), said on Tuesday, "...There are a total of 20 Lok Sabha MPs...This is not a betrayal if 2/3rd are going away. Constitution of the country allows for this. Lok Sabha allows for this. It is a betrayal if it is less than 2/3rd...Which is the 'real TMC' will be decided by the Court..."

(Via ANI)

TMC news LIVE updates: Trinamool Congress leader Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, leading the rebel faction of Lok Sabha TMC MPs, was seen departing from Delhi a short while ago.

The rebel faction of 20 MPs wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla that they are merging with Tripura-based party, NCPI, and will support the BJP-led NDA.

Om Birla is yet to take call on the merger proposal.

TMC news LIVE updates: Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee files plea in Calcutta high court, challenging assembly election result in Bhabanipur seat, she lost to Suvendu Adhikari, reported PTI news agency on Tuesday.

TMC news LIVE updates: AJUP President Humayun Kabir on Tuesday said he will support Trinamool Congress (TMC) Mamata Banerjee if she decides to contest from Rejinagar assembly constituency or Basirhat the Lok Sabha seat.

Bypolls are due in the Rejinagar assembly constituency because the sitting MLA, Humayun Kabir, won two seats in the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections and is required vacate one, by law.

“She (Mamata) will have to decide whether she wants to contest the elections or not. If she needs my support, I will support her. If she contests from Rejinagar, I will do everything possible to help her win. If she contests from Basirhat and seeks my support, I will not field any candidate against her,” Kabir said on Tuesday.

Bypolls are also due in the Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency due to the demise of the sitting MP, Haji Sheikh Nurul Islam.

TMC news LIVE updates: Bharatiya Janata Party MP Rahul Sinha on Tuesday said his party would not get involved in the Trinamool Congress (TMC) internal dispute and asserted that those found guilty in corruption cases should be punished irrespective of their position.

"We are not going to get involved in the TMC's fight. They should handle their internal squabble themselves," Sinha told ANI.

Referring to TMC's Abhishek Banerjee, the BJP MP alleged that he was linked to several scams and said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) must have found some evidence during its investigation.

"Abhishek Banerjee is connected to many scams. There is an ongoing investigation, and the ED must have found some evidence or the other. Those who have done such things, no matter how high a position they hold, should be punished," he said.

His remarks came after the ED questioned Abhishek Banerjee for nearly 11 hours in connection with the alleged primary school jobs scam case.

(ANI)

TMC News LIVE Updates: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee arrives at the High Court for a hearing in the Assembly LoP case, news agency PTI reports.

TMC news LIVE updates: In Parliament to sign her the paper to join the rebel MPs' faction in merging with the NCPI, MP Rachna Banerjee said on Tuesday she will never hold a rebellion against Mamata Banerjee and will always have respect for her.

“I have come here to sign the papers [for merger with another party]. We can never hold a rebellion against her and I will always have respect for her. We got votes due to Didi, whom we respect a lot. Didi was the face, but I got votes so that I can work for my constituency,” Rachna Banerjee said, speaking to ANI news agency in Parliament complex.

"I feel working will be easier if the same government is there at the Centre and in the State. We could not see this in the last 15 years. While, we were with Didi, we felt that we faced obstacles in the work we wanted to do. With CM Suvendu Adhikari now, we are seeing how rapidly the work is being done in West Bengal. We will always respect Didi," Banerjee said

TMC news LIVE updates: Kolkata Police has arrested two persons in connection with the egg-throwing incident involving TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh outside Mamata Banerjee's Kalighat residence in Kolkata on Monday, reported ANI news agency.

Kunal Ghosh was targeted with an egg outside party supremo Mamata Banerjee's Kalighat residence in south Kolkata on Monday evening, shortly after he came out of the house.

The incident took place around 6.30 pm when Ghosh, the MLA from Beliaghata in north Kolkata, stopped to speak to reporters outside the residence.

A man, who was later identified as Chandan, allegedly threw an egg at Ghosh from close range. Though Ghosh tried to duck, the egg hit his head and broke on impact, PTI news agency quoted onlookers as saying.

TMC news LIVE updates: Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was seen leaving from her Kolkata residence a short while ago ahead of her likely meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who reportedly will take a call on the NCPI merger move by the rebel faction of 20 party MPs after listening to both the sides.

TMC news LIVE: Former chief minister Mamata Banerjee's sister-in-law Kajari Banerjee and several former TMC councillors, including Ananya Banerjee, attended a programme at the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) on Monday as chief minister Suvendu Adhikari made his first official visit to the civic body after assuming office.

The development comes against the backdrop of a rebellion within the TMC, which has seen around 20 party MPs break ranks, merge with the little-known Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) and extend support to the BJP-led NDA at the Centre.

Among those present at the KMC programme was Mala Roy, the former KMC chairperson and TMC MP from Kolkata Dakshin, who is among the MPs now aligned with the NCPI-backed bloc supporting the NDA. TMC MLA and former Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, whose resignation led to the dissolution of the TMC-led board, was also present, according to a PTI news agency report.

Kajari Banerjee, former councillor of Ward 73 and a member of Mamata Banerjee's family, said they had been invited to discuss civic issues and development plans. Besides Kajari Banerjee, former councillors Debasish Kumar, Ananya Banerjee, Jui Biswas and Asim Bose attended the programme, insisting that their participation was aimed at ensuring continuity in civic services rather than signalling any political shift.

"As councillors, whatever little tenure remains, we have been called so that developmental work can continue smoothly. It feels good that the chief minister has invited members of the opposition," Kajari Banerjee was quoted as saying by PTI.

Asked about repeated summons issued to TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee by central agencies, she smiled and declined to comment.

TMC news LIVE updates: On a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs today, TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said that she raised issues of child marriages and trafficking in West Bengal, adding that the previous state government, led by then CM Mamata Banerjee, could not take action against these.

"In the meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, I raised the issues of child marriages and child trafficking in West Bengal. The previous state government could not put a stop to these things. In the meeting, I asked what steps have been taken in this regard," Kakoli Ghosh said.

TMC news LIVE updates: Rebel TMC MP Rachna Banerjee was seen arriving at the residence of BJP MP Nishikant Dubey in Delhi, likely to meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla later.

TMC news LIVE updates: The proposed NCPI-TMC (rebel faction) merger, if approved, will increase the BJP-led NDA’s strength from 294 to 314 in the Lok Sabha, still short of 46 seats to secure a two-thirds majority in the Lower House. In the Upper House, the ruling dispensation can reach 155 seats, just right seats short of the two-third majority.

A BJP MP, who was involved in discussions related to the developments, told HT the NCPI is an unrecognised party, which fought polls in West Bengal, Tripura and Meghalaya.

“The decision to merge with NCPI was taken to retain the rebels’ connection with West Bengal, but also give the Northeast a better representation in the Lok Sabha,” said the BJP MP.

In a meeting with Birla on Sunday evening, 19 TMC lawmakers handed over a letter expressing their wish to join the NCPI. Rachna Banerjee, a first-time MP currently in Malaysia, gave her consent in the letter, making it a 20 lawmakers group.