The Trinamool Congress’s foremost legal eagle, Kalyan Banerjee, contested again from Serampore, looking for his fourth consecutive victory from the seat. He claimed it would easily come with a victory margin of over 1.5 lakh votes, and oozed confidence on the Bengal outcome, with a forecast of 30-plus seats for his party.

Never afraid to be controversy’s favourite child, the practitioner of law in the historic corridors of Calcutta High Court since 1981 sided as always with Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee and risked to be seen taking an anti-Abhishek Banerjee stand in the recent old-versus-young debate that caused a cold civil war in the Trinamool dispensation.

Swearing by Mamata, whom he practically worships, the three-term MP marshaled his campaign for 65 days this merciless summer, while making himself available for campaigns across south Bengal. Curiously, his was one of three constituencies that the prolific Abhishek gave a miss despite his 72 campaign outings.

One of Mamata’s most trusted, oldest lieutenants, the 67-year-old has been one of the loudest critics of Narendra Modi on the floor of the Lower House and Parliament premises. This time, he wants nothing more than to see Modi ousted.

The Telegraph spoke to the lawyer-politician ahead of the fifth phase of polling. Excerpts:

What is your assessment of Bengal?

This time, the excitement about Didi (Mamata) is as palpable as the one that marked the beginning of our ascent to power, the 2009 general election…. The BJP is not in good shape in Bengal, and will finish third in several places.

Trinamool will get above 30, maybe even above 32. The BJP will get whatever remains. The Congress-Left will get zero.

Of the nation?

There is going to be a new Union government. There is no Modi magic left. The BJP’s votes have shifted…. They will simply not get sufficient numbers. People just do not want Modi again.

Would a proper INDIA truck have been good for Bengal?

The CPM was never in consideration. The Congress prospects were ruined by (state unit chief) Adhir (Ranjan Chowdhury), a BJP agent with a one-point agenda…. Had the alliance worked out here, the BJP would have struggled to win even 2-3 seats in Bengal.

How will the Congress fare?

The Congress will do very well elsewhere; and in some other key places, INDIA worked out brilliantly. In Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, for instance.

Did the Ram temple and other planks of polarisation not work as much as the BJP had banked on?

I am saying nothing against the temple, only referring to its attempted misuse as a poll plank. There was nothing at all in Bengal. Even elsewhere, where there could have been, there was practically none.

You had expressed your unwillingness to accept Abhishek Banerjee’s leadership. Is it really resolved now, between you and Abhishek?

It was a created perception by some with vested interests…. I acknowledge that he is the general secretary of my party. Naturally, he is the second person in the party, so I have respect for him; and he too has respect for me. It’s mutual. We have very cordial ties.

There will not always be unanimity in everything, everywhere. The ability to contradict, have a discourse, bounce ideas off each other, is a special quality of Trinamool.

There is nobody other than Abhishek who can lead Bengal in future, I always say this…. There is nothing permanent in politics. We are on tremendously good terms.

The former judge, now BJP leader Abhijit Gangopadhyay, was your bete noire. Would you have liked to contest against him?

I have been calling him out for long before most people saw through him. He is totally dishonest.... was always politically motivated, had his own agenda and goals…. He is a black sheep of the judiciary.

Had he come to contest from here, it would have been a much better fight than what this one turned out to be.

What caused that prolonged exchange of personal attacks between you and (the CPM’s firebrand) Dipsita Dhar?

Well, she started it…. She could be highly educated, but she does not know civility or decorum. She is way too conceited. Why, because she went to JNU?

Not one decent, civil person in the CPM now. Or else why would Md Salim be their state secretary?

Which will you prefer? All 42 seats here with Trinamool, but the BJP retains power at the Centre. Or you get less than 25, but INDIA forms the Union government.

See, Narendra Modi has to be ousted from the seat of power at the Centre.... that is the only agenda. If he stays, there will be nothing left of our democracy.

So, to have him removed, any means necessary in the national scheme of things.

Would you like to see Mamata as the Prime Minister?

That is her decision, nobody else’s. Of course, we would like to see that happen. I have been with her since 1984; of course it is my aspiration (to see Mamata as PM).