In a significant political move, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday nominated its national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee to represent the party in the all-party parliamentary delegation formed to amplify India’s anti-terror stance globally. This decision followed a day after Baharampur MP Yusuf Pathan withdrew his participation from the delegation.
The announcement was made on the party’s official social media handle, stating, “We are delighted to share that our Chairperson Mamata Banerjee has nominated Nat’l GS Abhishek Banerjee to represent Trinamool Congress in the all-party delegation for India’s global outreach against terrorism.”
Highlighting the significance of the move, the party emphasized that Abhishek Banerjee’s inclusion would add “conviction and clarity” to India’s global voice against terrorism. “His presence will not only reflect Bengal’s firm stand against terror but also strengthen India’s collective voice on the global stage,” TMC added.
The all-party delegation was formed in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor and includes 51 political leaders, parliamentarians, and former ministers from across parties. They have been assigned to seven different groups to travel to key world capitals with the aim of presenting a unified stand against cross-border terrorism.
However, the Trinamool Congress voiced concern over the process of nomination, asserting that the Centre failed to consult the party before assigning names. TMC Chairperson Mamata Banerjee expressed her disapproval, stating, “They (the Centre) cannot decide the name. If they request the mother party, the party will decide the name. This is the custom; this is the system.” Despite the criticism, she reiterated the party’s support for the Centre’s external affairs policy and national interests.
Abhishek Banerjee echoed Mamata Banerjee’s sentiment, reinforcing that while the TMC supports the government on matters of national interest and counter-terrorism, the authority to choose party representatives rests solely with the party. “If you want one member, we can provide five—but the Central Government must demonstrate good intent,” he said.
Yusuf Pathan, who was initially assigned to the delegation led by JDU MP Sanjay Kumar Jha—tasked with visiting Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore—stepped down citing unavailability. Senior TMC leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay was also approached earlier for the global outreach initiative but declined due to health concerns.
This latest development underscores the TMC’s firm assertion of party autonomy while reinforcing bipartisan cooperation on issues of national security.
