It was in February 2022 that the internal rift of the once invincible political party, headed by party supremo Mamata Banerjee, first became public. It was a battle between the old horses in the party, who had glued on several portfolios simultaneously and were not allowing space for the thirsty and restive young brigade. The youths held Abhishek as their idol and demanded his increased importance in the party while seeking one man, one post.
Abhishek was already the de facto number two in the party. Their target was Partha Chatterjee, who was the general secretary as well as the minister with more than one portfolio. Mamata acted swiftly by dissolving all national-level portfolios, including the one held by Abhishek Banerjee. However, she had to quietly yield and restore Abhishek’s powers.
Some strange things were happening. The ED was getting tips on the huge scams in the recruitments made under Partha Chatterjee’s education department, including details of the precise locations of huge cash and assets. It was difficult to believe that no insider was involved in the tip-off. Partha was arrested in July 2022. Anubrata Mandal, another party leader and political heavyweight, was similarly arrested in August 2022. A third heavyweight and a longtime Mamata loyalist. Jyoti Priya Mallick was arrested in October 2023, when the ED unearthed a huge scam on ration supply diversion.
Despite weak denials and an attempted distancing by the party, the scams have dented the image of Trinamool and, in particular, Mamata Banerjee. For the first time, the LoP, Subendhu Adhikari, mustered the courage to directly accuse the CM of being a thief, repeatedly in the Assembly precincts and elsewhere. It has not met the expected levels of rebuttal from the TMC party.
The party seems to be in a dilemma. There seems to be a growing demand for a reshuffle in the party leadership and the making was for the youth leaders with a cleaner (!) slate. But all know the indispensability of Mamata, who is the undisputed sole and most important national face whose displacement in any manner will mean the crumbling and the rout of the party. Mamata has been preparing Abhishek as the next incumbent to take over her party, which has been, by and large, approved by other party leaders.
Mamata seems to be eyeing Delhi and impatient Abhishek wants to weave a new magical Bengal that is modern and industry-friendly. He is promising to dispel the ghost of Singur when his aunt, Mamata, drives away the Tata group and their automobile project. However, such an accomplishment would be possible only when he steps outside Bengali borders and establishes relations with the mighty and powerful in politics and industry. Sadly, he is yet to acquire the nuances and has to dispel the scams and a chasing ED who are after him.
Lastly, as far as the elections in Bengal are concerned, the CPM and Congress must come out of the shadows of Delhi and take independent decisions on poll alliances, as following the diktats of their high command or politburo could well doom the parties chances further. They have to answer a more important question: which party is more useful as an alliance partner, the BJP or the Trinamool? A fair decision could change Bengal’s fortunes in the coming years.
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix
