Mamata ‘reins in’ Abhishek, appoints two joint general secretaries

To keep the flock together and prevent further disintegration within the party, Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has appointed two new joint general secretaries alongside general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

The move is being widely seen as an attempt by Mamata to rein in her nephew, who has increasingly been viewed as a central figure in internal tensions. Mamata, during the national working committee meeting held at her residence, named Rajya Sabha MPs Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen as national joint secretaries to “assist” Abhishek. The biggest setback for the TMC came in the form of a major split, with 58 rebel MLAs breaking ranks and electing “expelled” legislator Ritabrata Banerjee as their leader in the Assembly.

The rebel legislators subsequently submitted a letter to Speaker Rathindra Bose seeking recognition of Ritabrata as the Leader of the Opposition. It may be mentioned that Ritabrata had never criticised Mamata, which only proved that the members were upset with Abhishek.

Ritabrata had openly targeted Abhishek, asserting that he would have no role in the legislative party and that the party organisation would have no association with him. He had also questioned Abhishek’s relevance within the party and among the people of West Bengal. Following the split, Mamata dissolved all party committees and frontal organisations across West Bengal in a bid to restructure the party and contain the crisis. Most of the TMC leaders have been unhappy with Abhishek due to his growing dominance in the party and “dictatorial attitude”.