The new Banerjee on the block – or is he? Meet Mamata’s youngest sibling

Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has had her share of firefighting when it comes to her nephew and anointed successor, Abhishek Banerjee. But there can be only so much family one can take.

On Wednesday, West Bengal witnessed the Chief Minister publicly snubbing her youngest sibling, Babun Banerjee, declaring from a rally stage in Siliguri that the family was “disowning” him.

A chastened Babun soon after issued a statement saying he would always remain with “Didi”.

The provocation was Babun’s open opposition to the TMC’s newly declared candidate for the Howrah Lok Sabha seat, Prasun Banerjee. TMC sources said Babun hoped to get the ticket from Howrah.

Babun issued the statement sitting in Delhi, which triggered rumours that he might be exploring “options”. Babun said he was not happy with the TMC’s selection of Prasun, a former footballer and two-time Lok Sabha MP from Howrah, for the constituency. “He is not the right choice. There were many capable candidates who were overlooked,” he said.

What perhaps triggered Mamata’s outburst was what Babun said next. Noting that he is a registered voter at Howrah, Babun said: “I know Didi (Mamata Banerjee) will not agree with me. But, if needed, I will contest as an Independent from Howrah.”

Addressing the rally in Siliguri, Mamata reacted soon after. “Babun is no longer my brother. Today onwards, I snap all ties with him,” she said, adding that her family was also distancing itself from him. “He has forgotten how the family raised him after our father passed away. He was merely two-and-a-half years old, and I was earning Rs 35 and raised him,” she said.

In an almost immediate U-turn, Babun first underlined that there was no truth to news that he might join the BJP. “I will