Trinamool: Rift between old and new out in the open once again
The escalating discord between the traditional stalwarts and the emerging leaders within the Trinamool Congress became apparent on the party’s foundation day on January 1. State president Subrata Bakshi, known to be close to Mamata Banerjee, became embroiled in the dispute and faced criticism from the opposing faction, comprising supporters of the chief minister’s nephew and the party’s heir apparent, Abhishek Banerjee.
Bakshi, while raising the party’s flag, expressed optimism that Abhishek would not retreat but instead stand side-by-side with Mamata Banerjee in the forthcoming Lok Sabha election.
Critiquing this statement, Kunal Ghosh, the party’s state general secretary and an ally of Abhishek, remarked that the expression “step back” needs clarification because “Abhishek Banerjee is a leader of the party and will actively champion its cause”.
He also hit back at some of the party’s leaders, saying “Suvendu is in CBI’s FIR but some senior TMC leaders give speeches but don’t clearly call Suvendu a thief … Some party leaders even failed to promote or campaign for Mamata Didi at Nandigram”.
In a separate event, MP and senior figure Sudip Bandyopadhyay asserted that Bengal gets attention nationally solely due to the “exceptional” political acumen of Mamata Banerjee.
As the debate unfolded with other leaders expressing their allegiance either to Mamata Banerjee or Abhishek Banerjee, the day concluded with the latter visiting Mamata at her residence. TMC sources refused to divulge much, except saying that it was a New Year’s courtesy call.
Such open disharmony is likely only to add fuel to the BJP’s efforts at tarnishing the image of Trinamool Congress in the run-up to the general elections in mid-year.
