Key party role for Didi nephew
Abhishek made Trinamul general secretary
A month after coming to power for the third consecutive time in West Bengal, Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Saturday promoted her nephew and MP Abhishek Banerjee in party ranks from youth wing president to general secretary - under a major organisational revamp effected with an eye on the upcoming municipal elections and under the policy of “One Man, One Post”.
To improve her party’s image and prepare for the municipal elections, which were deferred over the last one year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the chief minister also cautioned the TMC rank and file not to get involved in coal and cattle smuggling scams, which the CBI has been probing, and not to use the beacon in their vehicles, according to sources.
Ms Banerjee, who took the key decisions at two party meetings with senior leaders, ministers, MLAs and MPs on Saturday, has however adopted a “wait and watch” mode to the sudden wish among her party's “betrayers” to return to the TMC for their survival from the BJP following its polldebacle.
TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee said, “The most important decision of our organisational
Ms Banerjee, who took the key decisions at two party meetings with senior leaders, ministers, MLAs and MPs on Saturday, has however adopted a “wait and watch” mode to the sudden wish among her party's “betrayers” to return to the TMC for their survival from the BJP following its polldebacle.
meeting was Mr Banerjee's nomination by the CM for his appointment to the general secretary post.”
Party insiders revealed that the young Diamond Harbour MP got the promotion for his combatant role in the Assembly poll campaign, braving the BJP’s allegations of his links to scams.
In the evening Mr Banerjee tweeted, “Humbled at the new role that @AITCofficial has bestowed upon me. I thank every single soldier of the party who fought this battle shoulder to shoulder with me despite all odds and helped Bengal emerge victorious. I assure all that I will leave no stone unturned towards the service of the people & take @MamataOfficial's message to every nook & corner in India in the days to come. I bow to all the senior colleagues in the party who stood by the party & its values despite all odds.”
Young Tollywood actor Saayoni Ghosh, who contested as a TMC candidate at Asansol South Assembly seat but lost to Agnimitra Paul of the BJP, has become the TMC youth wing chief. This is the first time the TMC chief gave the post to a woman to pull the youth.
On the TMC turncoats’ cry to make a comeback from the BJP, Mr Chatterjee added, “The issue was not discussed today. Our party chief has also not taken any decision in this regard. She is looking into it and will make the final decision.”
Under the “One Man, One Post” policy, the Trinamul Congress has decided not to allow a leader to hold a senior party post, like district chief, while continuing as a state minister, sources said. Besides, former TMC Rajya Sabha MP and spokesperson Kunal Ghosh has also been made a general secretary.
Among others, threetime Barasat MP Kakali Ghosh Dastidar will lead the TMC women's wing while former Rajya Sabha MP Ritabrata Banerjee, who joined the TMC few years ago and maintained a low profile, has been given the task of heading the trade union wing at the state level.
Film director Raj Chakraborty, who won as a Trinamul Congress MLA from Barrackpore, will head the party's cultural cell.