Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday (July 18, 2026) has given a big challenge to the leaders of the rebel group from the party. He said that those who are leaving the party and speaking ill of me today, I challenge them that if they come back to Didi, I will resign from the party within an hour.

After this challenge by Abhishek Banerjee, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has hit back at the TMC MP by taking a dig. BJP said that if he had said such a thing in 2018, today he would have become the Chief Minister representing TMC.

BJP MP took a jibe at Abhishek Banerjee

MP from Bishnupur, West Bengal and BJP leader Soumitra Khan, while talking to news agency ANI, said, ‘There is a saying in Bengal that when the soul leaves the body and finds peace and we go to the crematorium, we chant ‘Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna…’. Today Abhishek Banerjee was also speaking in the same spirit.

He said, ‘If he had said such a thing in the year 2018 itself, perhaps he too would have become the Chief Minister representing Trinamool Congress (TMC).’

I would not like you to leave TMC- Soumitra Khan

#WATCH | Kolkata: On Abhishek Banerjee’s statement, West Bengal Minister Saumitra Khan says, “…There is a saying in Bengal: when the soul departs the body and finds peace, and we visit the cremation ground, chant ‘Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna…’ Abhishek Banerjee spoke in this… pic.twitter.com/51HXjgrjyX

— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2026

The BJP MP said, ‘I want to tell him that you will neither be able to become an MLA nor an MP. Yes, you can definitely become a good ‘jailer’. You will live well inside the jail. We will also visit you occasionally, but will never want you to leave Trinamool Congress. Because the longer you remain in TMC, the longer and faster the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will continue to move forward.

BJP leader’s allegations against TMC

Saumitra Khan taunted Abhishek Banerjee and said, ‘Who are you showing anger to, yourself? You still have a lot to see in politics. Along with this, he has held TMC responsible for the murders of BJP workers. He said that 342 of our workers have been killed, Abhishek Banerjee’s TMC is responsible for their murder.

Also read: Abhishek Banerjee challenged the leaders of the rebel group of TMC, said – ‘I will resign in an hour if…’