In a recent organisational meeting at Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat home, the chief minister reasserted her position as the party's sole decision maker. The decisions taken at the meeting are pointers that Abhishek's recommendations to remove underperformers as indicated in Lok Sabha poll results will not be implemented in a hurry.

Addressing the martyr's day rally of TMC on July 21, Abhishek had announced that the underperformers in the civic and rural bodies run by Trinamool would be acted against in three months. A similar fate awaited leaders in whose areas the TMC candidates trailed behind BJP nominees in the Lok Sabha elections.

Lest his decisions be termed as arbitrary, Banerjee's office had prepared a report of functionaries of 120 civic bodies. This "performance based” report had been given to party supremo and chief minister, Mamata Banerjee.

Abhishek, the national general secretary of the TMC had gone abroad thereafter for his eye treatment. In an informal talk with scribes on his birthday November 7, he had indicated that several district chiefs are likely to lose their posts.

The three month deadline went by without any change in the party hierarchy. Meanwhile, Abhishek's loyalists had started rooting for more organisational and administrative responsibilities be given to him.

One of them, Bharatpur MLA Humayun Kabir who had often hit the headlines for the wrong reasons demanded that Abhishek be made deputy chief minister. He further stated that home department be given to Abhishek.

There were subtle recommendations that Abhishek be given a higher position in the party hierarchy. Without actually taking sides, veteran leader and Dum Dum MP, Saugata Roy said that it is difficult for one person to look into all the aspects of the administration, meaning Mamata is burdened with too much government departments.

Though a part of the old guard and known for his proximity to the party supremo, Roy put in a word for Abhishek, the MP from Diamond Harbour. It was learnt from TMC sources that Roy was on a relationship mending mission with Abhishek who was unhappy at the veteran leader contesting yet again from Dum Dum in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

But there were dissenting voices too seeking that Mamata Banerjee was the only leader in the TMC who was a "vote catcher". Both Kolkata mayor, Firad Hakim and Serampur MP Kalyan Bandopadhyay endorsed that Mamata Banerjee is the only leader in the Trinamool Congress who enjoyed the allegiance of one and all.

During the Lok Sabha elections campaign, Kalyan Bandopadhyay had clearly said that he needed none other than Mamata Banerjee to campaign for him. He added for good measure that he would not mind if Abhishek joined the campaign.

But just as a section of the TMC were looking forward to induction of Abhishek loyalists in key positions in the party, three disciplinary committees formed by the party supremo put paid to the idea. Mamata Banerjee made it clear that there is no possibility now of handing over the reins of authority in the party if the composition of the three disciplinary committees are anything to go by.

Comprising the leaders who had been with her when she broke away from Congress and floated Trinamool Congress like Sudip Bandopadhyay, Firad Hakim, Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, Arup Biswas, Kalyan Bandopadhyay, Mala Roy, Javed Khan and others. One of the disciplinary committees has already sent its first show cause noticed to Bharatpur MLA Humayun Kabir who had charged a coterie in the party trying to influence every decision of Mamata Banerjee.

Not replying to three show cause notices would amount to suspension. Another Abhishek loyalist, Arup Chakraborty has been dropped as party spokesman, both moves are being interpreted in TMC circles as a warning to those seeking to overshadow Mamata by her nephew.

Earlier, a senior TMC leader, a part of the group of veterans had said that Kabir's remarks have been taken note of. Action will be taken against him once the party supremo gives her nod. The show cause notice to Kabir is a pointer to the receipt of that nod. It is a clear message that the old guard will be decision makers remaining in key slots of TMC for quite sometime now. (IPA Service)