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Journalism of Courage
With months to go before the crucial Lok Sabha elections, an undercurrent of tension between the old guard and the new generation of leaders continues to exist in the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh on Friday spoke out over TMC number two Abhishek Banerjee’s photo not being displayed at a party meeting at the Netaji Indoor Stadium the day before.
Ghosh, who is a close associate of Abhishek, emphasised it was not a fight between the “old and the new”. He said, “Let me make it very clear — there is no fight between the old and the new. It is not about Mamata Banerjee versus Abhishek Banerjee as they are a team. The party needs both of them and their contributions are essential. However, I feel any major TMC programme can’t be held without Abhishek Banerjee. As he could not attend the meeting due to his health, his photo should have been put on display.”
Ghosh added, “The stage was incomplete without the presence of Abhishek Banerjee or his photograph. He has sacrificed a lot for the party and elevated himself to a position where he cannot be ignored anymore. He is essential for the party.”
On Thursday, the West Bengal Chief Minister said at the Netaji Indoor stadium meeting that due importance must be given to party seniors. “You have to take everyone along with you. Be it old-timers, newcomers or even people who want to join us. If they (those who want to join) have good credentials, you must consider inducting them into the party,” Banerjee said.
Referring to her statement, Ghosh said, “What our party supremo said is right. Seniors must be given adequate respect. But it doesn’t mean they will continue to occupy posts and juniors will continue to struggle for years. It is for the seniors to decide when they hang up their boots. MPs who are old or not keeping well should think about sitting at the party office and guiding the new generation instead of becoming MPs and MLAs.”
The TMC spokesperson also took a dig at his party’s government for restraining the BJP from hosting a rally, which is generating considerable publicity for the Opposition party. Ghosh said the “overconfidence” of certain leaders was adversely impacting its public image. The Calcutta High Court has allowed the BJP to hold the rally on November 29 at the spot where the TMC holds its annual Martyrs’ Day rally on July 21.
Ghosh said if the same mistake keeps reoccurring, it becomes impossible for him as the party spokesperson to justify such moves. “The job of a spokesperson is to defend even a wrong decision of the party as right. But if the same mistake is repeated again and again, this becomes difficult. I believe in the right of my party to conduct rallies at that venue but also that of other political parties to do so,” said the TMC leader.
Past causes of friction
There has been tension between the TMC’s new generation led by Abhishek and the old-timers — most of whom are Mamata Banerjee’s old lieutenants — since the party stormed back to power in Bengal in 2021. That election marked the rise of Abhishek and caused friction within the party.
Ahead of the subsequent civic elections, the rift widened over the candidates’ list. The tussle came to the fore after two candidate lists were released — one by the old guard including Hakim, Subrata Bakshi, and Aroop Biswas, and the other that was said to have been formulated by Prashant Kishor’s company I-PAC. The I-PAC came to be involved in the TMC’s poll strategy with Abhishek’s support after the party lost ground to the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Abhishek was also said to have been behind the party’s quick move to drop senior leader and then minister Partha Chatterjee from the state Cabinet and strip him of party positions within nine days of his arrest in an alleged school jobs scam.
Earlier this year, Kolkata mayor and state minister Firhad Hakim was forced to roll back the decision to hike parking fees in the city after Abhishek, Mamata’s nephew, intervened. Hakim is known to have strained ties with Abhishek.
A power struggle?
Fellow TMC spokesperson, Samir Chattopadhyay, said of Ghosh’s remarks, “Kunal Ghosh has not spoken against the party. He has given his opinion on what could have been done. It is his personal opinion. In the TMC, Mamata Banerjee is the last word. Abhishek Banerjee is her trusted lieutenant.”
Responding to the TMC leader’s remarks, BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said, “It is apparent from the fight that TMC will bring down TMC. If you look outside, there is infighting in the districts as well, where TMC is killing TMC. Squabbles within the TMC are coming out in the open every day.”
Congress leader Manoj Chakraborty said, “His (Ghosh) party is in disarray. There is a power struggle going on. Kunal Ghosh should focus on his party.”
Senior CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said Ghosh had said the right thing. “There is clearly a power struggle within the TMC, which is now coming out in the public,” said the former MP.
