Mamata reshuffles TMC, brings back old guards to stop defections

Mamata reshuffles TMC, brings back old guards to stop defections

After a devastating defeat in the West Bengal assembly election and the defection of 60 Trinamool Congress MLAs, party chief Mamata Banerjee is making all efforts to stop further erosion, including reinstating old and trusted leaders to key organisational positions.

According to a report by The Indian Express on Saturday, June 6, Mamata has retained her nephew Abhishek Banerjee as the party's national general secretary despite criticism. However, to reduce his unilateral decision-making power and placate rebels, Rajya Sabha MPs Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen have been appointed as joint national secretaries. The decision was taken at a national executive committee meeting at Mamata's Kalighat residence on Friday.

After 60 rebel MLAs formed a separate party named 'New Trinamool Congress' under the leadership of Ritabrata Banerjee, the Trinamool leadership immediately dissolved all its committees and branches. Following this, long-time state committee president Subrata Bakshi has been replaced by Mamata loyalist Chandrima Bhattacharya. Bakshi has been made vice-president of the national executive committee.

Arup Biswas, Rajiv Banerjee, Babar Ali, Pulak Roy and Asima Patra have been made state general secretaries. Old guards like Jyotipriya Mallick and Gautam Deb have been brought back. However, former Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim, a two-decade loyalist of Mamata and the party's main minority face, did not find a place in the new organisational structure.

Chandrima Bhattacharya, Kunal Ghosh, Kalyan Banerjee and Madan Mitra have been named the party's four chief spokespersons. Subhashis Chakraborty has been made treasurer.

None of the 60 rebel MLAs attended the meeting at Mamata's residence on Friday. Rebel leader Mosharraf Hossain said while they accept Mamata as their leader, they are unwilling to accept Abhishek Banerjee's leadership. Main rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee has said there is no way back for them. The Speaker has already recognised them as the main opposition party in the assembly.