Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress faces a unique internal challenge, much like its nemesis in the state — BJP — which is grappling with multiple organisational issues and is seemingly on the decline. For the TMC, the challenge goes beyond the traditional factional divides, focusing instead on an alleged “corrupt” group within the party.
Despite securing 29 Lok Sabha seats and running a majority government in the state for the third term, chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek — also the party’s national general secretary — have consistently been warning their colleagues, party members and workers of strict action against corruption and other anti-party activities.
Abhishek Banerjee, addressing the Martyrs’ Day programme — an annual mass meeting organised by the Trinamool Congress to commemorate the 1993 Kolkata firing incident — iterated that he had been away from organisational work for over a month-and-a-half for a reason. He stated that he had analysed the election results and the effects would be visible in the next three months.
TMC is poised for a significant organisational upheaval, including a purge, with Abhishek and Mamata Banerjee warning of imminent disciplinary measures against party workers and leaders who have failed to garner public support effectively.
Penalty and purge in the offing
Mamata Banerjee is known for publicly reprimanding her party colleagues during administrative or party meetings, some of which were televised.
Unbothered about the media presence, she has sharply criticised senior Trinamool Congress leaders, holding them accountable for a range of issues and shortcomings, including facilitating encroachments on government land, failing to provide basic amenities to the people, and inadequately conveying the party’s message to the electorate.
For instance, during one such meeting, Banerjee confronted a senior leader about unauthorised constructions on government land, demanding immediate corrective measures. She reiterated negative impact of such encroachments on public trust and the party’s reputation, following TMC’s drubbing in some urban constituencies that included the municipality areas.
In a similar instance, she expressed her dissatisfaction with the lack of progress in infrastructure development and basic services, such as water supply and road maintenance. She pointed out specific areas where the administration had failed and called for immediate action to address these issues, while maintaining that the failure to deliver on promises could alienate voters even more than before.
The ‘AB’ factor
According to sources in Trinamool ranks, Abhishek Banerjee, popularly called as AB among party workers and leaders, has contributed heavily in such actions taken by the chief minister. He, along with the organisation that now manages party’s elections and other activities, has analysed all results of all segments, the fall of vote share in some areas and the impact of such results.
It turned out that the party performed fairly well in the rural belt of Bengal, riding high on Mamata Banerjee’s financial assistance schemes like ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’. However, it has taken a hit in some of the urban constituencies.
Abhishek Banerjee, as the party’s national general secretary, has time and again pulled up leaders for their failure to effectively communicate TMC’s policies and achievements to the public. He has stressed the importance of grassroots engagement and clear communication to maintain voter support and counter opposition narratives. While addressing the gathering on Sunday in central Kolkata, he said strict action would be taken against leaders, including town presidents, presidents, block presidents and others.
