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In a significant organisational shake-up, Trinamool Congress have named its national general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee as the party’s new parliamentary leader in the Lok Sabha, replacing veteran leader Sudip Bandopadhyay, who has been unwell for months.
The decision was taken at a closed-door virtual meeting of TMC MPs from both Houses of Parliament, chaired by party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who attended virtually from Kolkata.
Three-time MP Abhishek Banerjee, widely seen as the de facto No. 2 in the TMC and nephew of Mamata Banerjee, will now spearhead the party’s strategy and coordination in the Lok Sabha at a time when the Opposition bloc INDIA is ramping up pressure on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government over issues ranging from Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) initiative to alleged attacks on Bengali migrants in parts of the country.
“Abhishek Banerjee will lead the party in the Lok Sabha until Sudip Bandopadhyay recovers fully,” the TMC boss told party MPs during the meeting, according to sources.
Bandopadhyay, a four-time MP from Kolkata North and a seasoned parliamentarian, had been holding the position since 2011 after Mamata quit the post after becoming CM.
She also announced that Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar would be in charge of day-to-day coordination among MPs in the Lower House.
Party insiders said Sreerampore MP Kalyan Banerjee, who was earlier in charge of floor coordination, has also been relieved of his responsibilities.
He has resigned from his post as party chief whip. The move follows murmurs of internal rift and friction among some of the senior MPs during the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha.
The TMC chief was reportedly unhappy with the recent lack of cohesion among the party’s MPs in the Lok Sabha.
