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Sources say the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is not happy with INDIA bloc ally Congress and would not allow their ‘big brother’ attitude
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee wants MPs to raise the state’s issues after the huge bypoll mandate. (PTI File)
The tone was set the day the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly election results came out – the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is not happy with Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc ally Congress and would not allow their ‘big brother’ attitude.
As Parliament’s winter session began on Monday, TMC chief and West Bengal chief minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee held a national executive committee meeting in Kolkata, where, sources say, she set the strategy and made structural changes to the party.
In the meeting, sources quoted Mamata Banerjee as saying: “Bengal’s issues will be raised more by MPs as people have given us a huge mandate.”
TMC’S STRATEGY FOR PARLIAMENT SESSION
According to sources, Banerjee said that the TMC will be with the INDIA bloc, but West Bengal MPs will raise the issues of price rise, centre’s apathy towards Bengal, and not receiving work money for 100 days. The TMC won all six bypolls as the results were announced on Saturday.
Banerjee outlined the key issues for the National Working Committee:
- Price Rise
- Inflation
- Unemployment
- Deprivation of AWAS and other funds for Bengal
- Fertilisers
- North East and Manipur violence
TMC’s Chandrima Bhattacharya said, “Price rise, 100 days’ money not being given and Manipur will be raised in Parliament…”
TMC WANTS TO STRESS ON APARAJITA BILL
The TMC plans to stress on the Aparajita bill – passed in Bengal which makes a provision for strict punishment for rapists. On November 30, the TMC’s women’s cell will hold rallies in different parts of Bengal demanding this bill be made into an Act. It is now with the President of India. Banerjee has also directed that after December 10, 15 representatives from the TMC — 10 MPs and 5 MLAs — will seek time with the President on this issue.
Sources say TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee raised the Aparajita bill issue in the meeting.
Although the TMC did not face any heat from the RG Kar Hospital rape-murder in bypolls, they want to keep the movement alive to project that they are serious about women’s safety, say political experts.
TMC’s STRUCTURAL CHANGES
At Monday’s meeting, Banerjee also declared the formation of three disciplinary committees.
Also, a show-cause notice will be sent to leaders involved in anti-party actions. If that person does not reply to three notices, he/she will be suspended. Media coordination will be done by Arup Biswas.
Parliament Disciplinary Committee: Sudip Banerjee, Derek O’Brien, Kakoli Ghosh Dostidar, Kalyan Banerjee, Nadimul Haq.
Party Disciplinary Committee: Subrata Bakshi, Arup Biswas, Firhad Hakim, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Sujit Basu.
Assembly Disciplinary Committee: Shobhon Deb, Nirmal Ghosh, Debasish Kumar, Firhad Hakim, Arup Biswas, Chandrima Bhattacharya.
Seven more people, including Kalyan Banerjee, Mala Roy, and Javed Khan, have been added to the TMC National Working Committee.
Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O’Brien, Sushmita Dev, Kakoli Ghosh Dostidar, Sagarika Ghosh and Kirti Azad will speak on Delhi issues.
Considering the tussle between the TMC’s seniors and juniors, more seniors have been accommodated in various committees, according to a section of party insiders.