The Congress party has rubbished speculation about a possible merger with the Trinamool Congress (TMC), describing such reports as baseless rumors.
Addressing a press conference, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said discussions during a recent meeting with former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee were confined to national issues and did not involve any talks on a merger between the two parties.
The speculation comes amid a split within the TMC's legislative and parliamentary wings, barely a month after the party was voted out of power in West Bengal, securing only 80 seats in the 294-member Assembly.
However, Trinamool has not officially commented on the possibility of a merger. TMC MP Saugata Roy, considered a close aide of Mamata Banerjee, said it was important for the party to work with the Congress, but added that it remains to be seen whether that cooperation would take the form of an alliance or a merger.
'Abhishek has destroyed TMC': Kalyan Banerjee
As the TMC faces rebellions and high-profile resignations, senior party leader Kalyan Banerjee added a fresh twist in the saga by refusing to back TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in the signature forgery row, accusing him of destroying the party.
Speaking to reporters, Kalyan Banerjee said, “I will not appear for Abhishek Banerjee in any case because I do not like his arrogant attitude. I have spent 45 years in this profession; all these people have worked with me as juniors. How can he humiliate me?"
Banerjee said that party supremo Mamata Banerjee will have to decide whether she wants to keep him or Abhishek Banerjee, asserting that he would not remain in the party if she believes the organization cannot function without her nephew.
