A series of suspensions within the youth wing of the Trinamool Congress has sparked renewed discussions regarding leadership dynamics in the party, particularly advocating for a more significant role for General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
On Friday, the party expelled Monishankar Mandal, Vice-President of the West Bengal College and University Professors Association (WBCUPA), and Pritam Halder, Acting President of the Trinamool Teachers Association. This decision comes as Mr. Mandal has been vocally supporting a larger involvement of the party’s general secretary, including calls for him to be incorporated into the government. His campaign, which included posters heralding Mr. Banerjee as a “game changer” for the Lok Sabha elections, reportedly displeased party leadership.
Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh announced the expulsions, stating, “Shree Bratya Basu, Hon’ble MIC, Education Department and President of the Education Cell, has expelled Monishankar Mandal, Pritam Halder, and related individuals from all posts and organizations due to their indisciplined activities.” Ghosh confirmed that this action was sanctioned by Trinamool leadership, dismissing claims of confusion and labeling these comments as distorted narratives.
In response to his suspension, Mr. Mandal asserted that supporting Abhishek Banerjee should not be seen as an “anti-party” action. Similar concerns were raised recently when Bharatpur Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir received a show-cause notice for proposing a more prominent role for Banerjee within the government.
Additionally, the party suspended Tarun Tiwary, a leader from the West Bengal Pradesh Trinamool Youth Congress, for alleged anti-party activities. Tiwary was arrested by Kolkata Police for extortion, with claims that he misrepresented his closeness to Mr. Banerjee.
These developments follow a statement from party chairperson and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who reiterated her authoritative position within the party, declaring, “I am still there. I am the final word.” While it is clear in political discussions that Abhishek Banerjee holds a pivotal position within the party, calls for his increased responsibilities continue to resonate among certain factions.
The ongoing shifts within the Trinamool Congress highlight the evolving landscape of political leadership and influence in West Bengal.
