String of suspensions in Trinamool for brandishing Abhishek’s name

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A string of suspensions in the youth wing of Trinamool Congress has once again brought focus on the leadership debate in the party and calling for a larger role for party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

The Trinamool Congress on Friday expelled Monishankar Mandal, vice-president of the party’s professors’ cell West Bengal College and University Professors Association (WBCUPA) and Pritam Halder, acting president of Trinamool Teachers Association.

The development assumes significance as Mr. Mandal has been calling for a greater role for the party general secretary, including inducting them in the government. Mr. Mandal has also put up posters describing Mr. Banerjee as a “game changer” in the Lok Sabha polls. Sources in the party said that the remarks made by the professors’ union leader did not go down well with the party leadership.

“This is to inform you all that Shree Bratya Basu, Hon’ble MIC, Education department and the President, Education Cell of Party, has expelled Monishankar Mandal, Pritam Halder and other related persons from all their posts and organisations with immediate effect because of their indisciplined activities,” Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh said.

Mr. Ghosh said the decision of education cell chief Bratya Basu is approved by the Trinamool leadership. “There is no question of confusion. A section is trying divert the issue using distorted news and creating false narrative,” the Trinamool leader added.

Reacting to his suspension from the party, Mr. Mandal said that praising Abhishek Banerjee cannot be an “anti-party” activity in the Trinamool.

A few days ago, the party issued a show-cause notice to Bharatpur Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir for making similar comments and publicly endorsing a bigger role for Abhishek Banerjee including his inclusion in the West Bengal government.

In another development, the party suspended West Bengal Pradesh Trinamool Youth Congress Tarun Tiwary for “anti-party activities”. The party’s youth leader was arrested by Kolkata Police allegedly for extorting money. The complainant said the youth leader extorted money saying that he was close to Mr. Banerjee.

The developments come days after party chairperson and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had put an end to all the speculations about the leadership debate. On December 3, Ms. Banerjee had told her party MLAs that she was the final word in the Trinamool Congress.

“I am still there. I am the final word,” the party chairperson had said. While it is evident in the political circles that Abhishek Banerjee is the number two in the party. Occasionally there are voices from within the party who call for a greater role for the Diamond Harbour MP, both in the party and in the government.