In the internal crisis in the Trinamool Congress (TMC) between the Mamata Banerjee-led camp and a faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, the latest leader to switch to the rebels’ side has echoed a specific demand: “Depose Abhishek Banerjee”.
While the two sides are now officially vying for control of the party’s organization at the Election Commission, senior leaders have begun to publicly express their concerns about the leadership and future direction of the party.
Veteran TMC leader and former North Bengal Development Minister Rabindranath Ghosh said the removal of Mamata’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee from active politics could bring together dissident party leaders again under her leadership.
Ghosh, who recently joined the rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, said many leaders and workers who stayed away from Mamata’s camp could return if the top party takes a firm stand against her nephew.
Also read: BJP vs TMC in Bengal over Kolkata airport restricting entry to 136-year-old mosque
“Abhishek removed to reunite TMC”
“From what I have come to realize after talking to several party leaders is that Mamata Banerjee needs to remove Abhishek from the field of active politics, at least for now. I believe this would make the dissident leaders and workers come back to her,” Ghosh said.
Also read: Amid exodus in Trinamool Congress, this is who is still in Mamata’s team
Ghosh’s entry into the rebel faction marks another major escalation in the internal crisis within the TMC, with many long-time Mamata loyalists shifting towards the Ritabrata-led camp.
The rebel faction intensified its organizing drive after unveiling parallel committees at the state and district levels, attracting leaders including former Birbhum strongman Anubrata Mondal to its ranks.
Attack on Abhishek, I-PAC
Ghosh, who served as TMC district president for over two decades and was considered a close associate of Mamata Banerjee, blamed Abhishek Banerjee and political consultancy firm I-PAC for the party’s setbacks in the Assembly elections.
He alleged that decisions influenced by Abhishek and I-PAC resulted in several MLAs and ministers being denied tickets and organizational positions.
“Abhishek’s whims and fancies…more than 80 MPs and ministers were denied election tickets and many others were removed from their organizational posts. This had a severe impact on the party,” Ghosh said.
Ghosh questioned Mamata Banerjee’s control over the party and claimed that power had become concentrated elsewhere within the organisation.
“Does Didi really no longer have power in her hands? Power has become concentrated elsewhere and incompetent people have been given crucial responsibilities. Even if Mamata Banerjee wanted to, she was not able to do many things,” he said.
Criticizing Abhishek’s political rise, Ghosh said the younger TMC leader lacks the experience gained through grassroots movements. He also attacked I-PAC, saying the consulting firm had gained influence despite having no role during the party’s previous election victories.
“We qualified through political struggles and years of hard work. There was no I-PAC in 2011 or 2016. Suddenly they became indispensable. In the end, they destroyed the party and withdrew,” he said.
Regarding his decision to join the rebel faction, Ghosh said that he believes he stands with the majority of party workers and leaders.
“We have to be where the majority is. Both MLAs and leaders from North Bengal have come together at one place. I have taken this decision to stand by the party workers,” he said.
Public about Abhishek’s future
Meanwhile, an ABP Ananda poll examined whether Mamata Banerjee will take action against Abhishek Banerjee amid demands from rebel leaders that he be removed from the active leadership of the party.
The survey asked respondents whether Mamata Banerjee would take a firm stand against her nephew to protect the future of the party.
According to the survey, 78% of respondents said they believed that “Mamata Didi will not take any strict action against her nephew,” while 19% felt that she could take such a step to save the party. About 3 percent said they did not know or could not predict what the head of the TMC might do.
(With inputs from PTI)
