Kolkata: In a move to consolidate control amid ongoing erosion of senior ranks, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Saturday replaced two more rebel MPs from key party positions, barely a week after a sweeping organizational overhaul.
At a meeting at her Kalighat residence, Arnab Banerjee—a former South Kolkata district Trinamool Youth Congress president and current party spokesperson—was appointed state Trinamool Youth Congress president, replacing rebel MP Saayoni Ghosh. Kunal Ghosh was appointed North Kolkata organisational district president, replacing Sudip Bandyopadhyay. Veteran MP Saugata Roy was made parliamentary party adviser in the Lok Sabha.
The moves come a day after Mala Roy was removed as Mahila Trinamool president and replaced by Kaliganj MLA Alifa Ahmed. This restructuring began last week when Mamata appointed Chandrima Bhattacharya as state unit president in place of Subrata Bakshi, and appointed senior MPs Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen as joint national secretaries—moves widely seen as curtailing Abhishek Banerjee's organisational authority.
Sources indicated that decisions against Bandyopadhyay and another party senior are expected in the coming days. Roy and Jyotipriyo Mullick have also been inducted into the National Working Committee. Saturday's meeting was attended by Abhishek Banerjee, O'Brien, Roy, Kalyan Banerjee, Kunal Ghosh, and others. It followed days of public tension between Kalyan Banerjee and Abhishek, with the veteran MP having issued an ultimatum to Mamata to choose between him and her nephew.
Sources said the two were reconciled at the meeting. Kalyan earlier stated: "He is like a son to me. It's a father's duty to forgive all the mistakes of his son. We have to fight together." Abhishek, for his part, said: "Kalyan Banerjee is elder to me. He has the right to express his views. I won't say anything against him."
