Didi, Nephew Lose Control, Posts To Rebels In TMC
The dramatic political development unfolded in the afternoon following the first BJP government's budget presentation in the House.
Kolkata:In less than two months of losing power in West Bengal, Trinamul Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee and her MP nephew Abhishek Banerjee faced the biggest setback of their political careers on Monday as a major internal revolt challenged their control over the party and sought to remove them from key organisational positions.
A group of rebel TMC MLAs, led by Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, convened a special session and announced the removal of Banerjee as the party’s founder-chairperson. They also declared the ouster of Abhishek Banerjee as national general secretary and suspended him from the organisation.
The rebel camp, which claimed the support of 60 MLAs and 70 former councillors of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, said it had acted in accordance with the party constitution.
The dramatic development unfolded shortly after the presentation of the first BJP government’s Budget in the Assembly. The dissident leaders met at a hotel in New Town and held a special session under the TMC banner. Notably, the stage displayed photographs of Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam and B.R. Ambedkar instead of Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee.
The rebels alleged that the party leadership had violated Section 20 of the TMC constitution by failing to convene a national executive committee meeting after 2022, despite a provision requiring such a meeting every three years.
They subsequently adopted a resolution dissolving the existing national executive committee and constituted a new 30-member panel headed by a chairman.
The post of chairman was given to Howrah Central MLA and former minister Arup Roy. Former MLA Aroop Biswas was appointed vice-president along with MLAs Firhad Hakim and Rathin Ghosh.
The newly constituted TMC also named four general secretaries — Ritabrata Banerjee, Sandipan Saha, Javed Ahmed Khan and Sabina Yasmin — while MLA Akhruzzaman was appointed treasurer.
Speaking after the meeting, Ritabrata Banerjee said, “It is not about what is real or not real. We are TMC and will inform the Election Commission about the proceedings of today’s special session.”
“We have convened this special session as per the rules. It is for the Election Commission to decide what is right or wrong. We will soon constitute district committees, the state unit and a panel of spokespersons. If Mamata Banerjee wishes to serve as chief adviser, she is welcome,” he added.
Soon after the meeting, the original TMC leadership reportedly issued show-cause notices to several leaders for joining the rebel camp. Those served notices reportedly include Arup Roy, Aroop Biswas, Firhad Hakim, Javed Ahmed Khan and Sabina Yasmin.
However, Beleghata MLA Kunal Ghosh, a close aide of Mamata Banerjee, dismissed the developments. “It is a comedy show. A person who has been expelled from the TMC is holding a special session. The matter is before the court and we believe justice will prevail. We attach no importance to such theatrics. TMC equals Mamata Banerjee. Everything else is a circus,” he said.
