'Trinamool 2.0': Many Hurdles Before Mamata Nephew Abhishek As He Tries To Revamp Party Before Panchayat Polls

File photo of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee with supporters during his tour of Uttar Dinajpur district on April 30, 2023. ( Image Source :PTI )

The Trinamool Congress, under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is currently facing a challenging situation in West Bengal due to accusations of corruption against the party. The widespread corruption, and alleged connections between leaders and mafias in Bengal, have so alarmed the public that the TMC has already begun to feel the heat of disillusionment. In order to give the party a fresh facelift, general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of CM Mamata Banerjee, has started a two-month mass outreach tour called "Trinamool Nobo Jowar". The party has understood that a redesign is urgently needed at this point.

Today, Nat'l Gen Sec Shri @abhishekaitc met with the families of the victims of the BSF shootout, Prem Kumar Barman and Mozaffar Hussain, in Cooch Behar.

He assured them of his unwavering support and wished for peace and strength for the families.#TrinamooleNaboJowar pic.twitter.com/szUHkg3muD

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) April 25, 2023

Since Mamata Banerjee's image ultimately determines whether someone votes for the TMC, there are already doubts in political circles about why she is not leading such an endeavor. The TMC supremo herself appears to want Abhishek to be the party's leader, but given the TMC's deplorable organisational state, this will not be a simple assignment. The party is aware that if the redesign is not completed today, the outcome of panchayat elections, scheduled to be held in a month or two, could be devastating for the party. Despite a long history of violence during the Bengal panchayat elections, the TMC is now assuring that there won't be any more of it. Restructuring the party is a difficult process in and of itself, and containing election violence during panchayat elections is another monumental challenge.

Challenge Of Eliminating Widespread Corruption

Over the last one year, central agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate arrested a number of prominent Trinamool Congress members. Importantly, the Calcutta High Court monitored all of these cases and ordered the probe. It was discovered during the investigation that there is widespread corruption allegedly both inside the TMC organisation and within the government. For instance, the teacher recruitment scam, which has impacted the people of West Bengal, saw CBI arresting Partha Chatterjee, one of the most senior cabinet ministers who was also the TMC secretary-general (currently on suspension), for his alleged involvement. Several other key TMC members, including MLAs and senior office-bearers, were arrested by the central agencies in the same case.

Anubrata Mondal, TMC strongman and president of party's Birbhum district unit, was taken into custody by the authorities on suspicion of smuggling cows.

Abhishek Banerjee would find it nearly impossible to overhaul the whole grassroots organisation before the panchayat election, given the rising belief among West Bengal residents that corruption begins right there. It could hurt the party's success in the panchayat elections, especially if Abhishek really wants to improve the organisational structure by getting rid of corrupt individuals.

Factionalism In Trinamool 

Abhishek Banerjee is aiming to restructure the ruling party in the corporate way, and hence has determined that voters in each constituency will choose the candidate for their local panchayat. There was utter chaos on the first two days after the decision. Party insiders believe there are already debates on how Abhishek is acting independently without taking everyone into confidence. Factionalism in the Trinamool Congress is said to be increasing. There is a group of people who are close to Mamata Banerjee, while Abhishek is close to the young leaders. The party will require both veterans and newcomers as a result of the organisational overhaul. Therefore, this overhaul will ultimately increase factionalism within the TMC if Abhishek tries to make choices entirely on his own without consulting the party.

The Absence of Mamata Banerjee

The Trinamool Congress' future is solely up to Mamata Banerjee, and if there is one party leader with genuine legitimacy, it is the chief minister. Not having Mamata head the party revamp is one of the main problems of the type of politics Abhishek Banerjee is doing. Without a doubt, Abhishek enjoys some support from both the party and the public. But because West Bengal's politics are already volatile due to a number of corruption cases and an increase in violent crimes, Mamata must take the lead to make this endeavor legitimate. People won't have much faith in this organisational reform if Mamata Banerjee isn't leading it. Because no organisational change, revamp, or restructuring can occur in the party without Mamata. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, CPI(M), and Congress will also criticise the TMC for not being serious about the matter.

West Bengal Panchayat Elections And Violence

Holding the election peacefully will be the TMC's main challenge in the next panchayat polls. The party must understand that it is losing credibility as a result of the increasing number of violent incidents in each election. The TMC's reputation has been severely harmed by these violent crimes that have been committed repeatedly. Due to pre-election violence, the majority of the opposition political parties were unable to even field candidates in the most recent panchayat elections. Widespread violence was also seen in West Bengal during the recent municipal elections, despite firm guarantees from the top TMC figures, including Abhishek Banerjee, that there wouldn't be any.

The survival of Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress depends on how the party functions. Although an organisational makeover is definitely necessary, Mamata Banerjee's complete involvement and leadership are required for it to succeed. Abhishek Banerjee cannot serve as the party's key face at this point; he can only support the TMC supremo. The TMC will be put to the test in the next rural elections, and if the party hold this peacefully, that would be seen as a success. However, if the TMC fails once again, it will find it difficult to take on the BJP, CPIM, and Congress in 2024.

The author is a columnist and doctoral research scholar in Media & Politics.

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