Trinamul general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday called the NEET paper leak case “the biggest scam” and asked why Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan had not been arrested in the NEET question paper leak case.
He was speaking at chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s party’s annual show of strength rally in Calcutta.
Last month, Abhishek had flown out of the country, sparking speculation of a possible rift with party chief Mamata Banerjee. He had announced on social media that he was taking a break on medical grounds.
His short leave from the organisation had fuelled speculation of a rift between him and his aunt Mamata among party workers.
On Sunday, there was no sign of that.
“The day after July 21 in 2022, ED officials raided the house of Partha Chatterjee and arrested. We took action against him. If in the so-called SSC or TET scam, ED could raid Chatterjee’s house and arrest him, why has the ED not arrested Dharmendra Pradhan in the biggest scam, the NEET question paper leak?” Abhishek said
After the wins in the Lok Sabha and the bypolls to the four Assembly constituencies in Bengal, he asked the party workers to start preparing for the 2026 Assembly election.
“In the coming days we have to be prepared for the 2026 Assembly elections. Elected representatives in the municipal bodies and panchayat must think about the workers and not themselves,” said Abhishek.
Even the issue of candidate selection – one of the speculated sticky points in the party – did not seem an issue anymore.
“We need the experienced, and the enthusiasm of the young is needed to take forward our party,” Abhishek said.
Before the Lok Sabha polls, the Trinamul was hit with the arrest of some of its leaders in various scams – from recruitment of teachers to distribution of ration. Following the results of June 4, in which Trinamul improved its tally to 29 from the 22 the party had won in the 2019, videos of local Trinamul strongmen have surfaced – from Chopra in North Dinajpur to Ariadaha in North 24 Parganas.
“Don’t get involved in altercation. People in the panchayats and municipalities did not vote for the BJP. They voted for you. Remember that,” said Abhishek.
Abhishek said he has been busy reviewing the performances of the party leaders in the Lok Sabha polls.
“Party will introspect. Councilors, panchayat members in whose areas the party did not perform well, action will be taken against everyone. Action will be taken against everyone who failed to convince the voters,” said Abhishek. “Every leader has to work as hard as they do for their own elections in every other election. You cannot hold yourself back believing Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee will address one meeting and the seat will be won.”
Reminding the BJP of a meeting from a decade ago in the month of November from where then BJP minder for Bengal Sidharth Nath Singh had famously said: “Bhaag, Mamata, bhaag,” Abhishek said the people of Bengal had sent the BJP packing.
“We have wiped out the BJP from Bengal, but there is no room for complacency. We have to remain humble. From here BJP leaders said, Bhaag, Mamata, bhaag. Bengal’s people have rejected BJP and taught the Prime Minister Narendra Modi a lesson,” he said.
“For 10 years the BJP used the CBI, ED, a section of the judiciary and the media to defame the Trinamul and Bengal. After the elections the BJP does not talk about Sandeshkhali,” said Abhishek. “They could not fight the Trinamul and deprived the poor people of Bengal. They have not released funds for building houses, 100 days’ work, roads and mid-day meals. The deprived people have taught them a lesson and sealed their future in Bengal. They wanted to tighten the screws of the Trinamul Congress, but they forgot that the people have the bigger screwdriver.”
