Trinamool Congress chairperson and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday (July 12, 2026)defended her nephew and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, saying he continued to “fight like a tiger” despite facing a barrage of cases.

“They (the rebels) are using Abhishek Banerjee as an excuse. His family members were summoned. Had he wanted, he could have got relief. But he did not run away from the battlefield. The way he has continued to fight, even if he has made any mistake, that should be forgiven. He is fighting like a tiger,” Ms. Banerjee said during a live address on social media.

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Strongest public endorsement

The remarks are being considered her strongest public endorsement of Mr. Banerjee since the rebellion within the Trinamool Congress, which has seen a majority of MPs and MLAs desert Ms. Banerjee.

Her comments came at a time when Mr. Banerjee is being blamed for the party’s loss in the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly Election. Several party leaders, including MPs and MLAs, have blamed the Diamond Harbour MP for their decision to part ways with Ms. Banerjee.

Ms. Banerjee was speaking on the day when Mr. Banerjee gave his voice sample in a case alleging that he made inflammatory statements during the Assembly election campaign.

“Police being used”

She alleged that Central agencies had become instruments for dismantling the Opposition. “The BJP is using the police to break the Trinamool. They are using fear and threats to dismantle municipal boards,” she alleged.

The Trinamool Congress supremo described the rebel leaders as a “setting company", alleging they were scared of the ED and the CBI. “Those who have a setting are joining the BJP’s washing machine. Those MLAs and MPs who have joined the ‘setting company’ have done so because they are afraid. Don’t lie. You are free to go if you want. Go, join the BJP’s washing machine,” she stated. 

Throwing a challenge to the BJP, the former Chief Minister said that she would not die until she defeated the party. Speaking about her long political journey, including the period in 2004, when she was the lone party MP in the Lok Sabha, she said that she could start afresh once again. “No one can stop me. If I could start afresh after 2004, then I can start again after 2026,” she said.

“My conscience not sold”

Ms. Banerjee launched a sharp attack on the rebels and said, “I apologise to the people on behalf of the traitors. I have not sold my ‘bibek’ (conscience) for political survival. Had I compromised, we would not have faced so much torture.”

Exhorting her supporters to attend the July 21 public meeting outside the Birla Planetarium, Ms. Banerjee touched on a number of issues, including the Baruipur rape and murder case, the eviction of hawkers, and the State government’s proposal to provide mid-day meals without eggs in Kolkata schools.

She also expressed solidarity with climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, saying she had spoken to him during his ongoing indefinite hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET (UG) 2026 exam and other exams.