TMC to protest eviction, meet at ex-CM’s house sees MLAs’ ‘question party inaction’

Kolkata: Trinamool is set to launch a protest campaign against what it described as BJP's "bulldozer culture" and the forceful eviction of hawkers. As part of the programme, the party will hold demonstrations at Howrah Station, Sealdah Station and near Ballygunge on Thursday.The decision was taken following a meeting chaired by former CM and party chief Mamata Banerjee at her Kalighat residence, where MLAs gathered to chalk out TMC's post-poll strategy.Sources said Tuesday's meeting saw signs of unease within TMC ranks. According to sources, three MLAs — Kunal Ghosh, Sandipan Saha and Ritabrata Banerjee — strongly questioned the leadership over the party's silence on the ongoing demolition drives. The MLAs argued that while CPM had already started mobilising around the issue, TMC had failed to take a visible stand, said sources.Ghosh also argued that party members should have greater freedom to express themselves and that discussions within the organisation had become confined only to closed-door meetings. He urged the leadership to take the fight to the streets, sources said.Following the election results, Banerjee has been active in the public space, attending Rabindra Jayanti in Kalighat and personally appearing in court in connection with post-poll violence matters. In contrast, Abhishek Banerjee has largely stayed away from public appearances and was also absent during campaigning in Falta, part of his parliamentary constituency, prompting speculation and questions.Sources claimed that Mamata Banerjee had earlier instructed MLAs to submit any grievances regarding the party leadership in writing. However, the three MLAs chose not to go that way on Tuesday.Following the discussion, the TMC chief is learnt to have asked Abhishek to take responsibility for hearing the grievances and suggestions of MLAs and functionaries. "BJP will be removed from office in Delhi soon," the former CM said in the meeting, according to sources.Banerjee also raised concerns over the reopening of old cases, fearing that party workers could face arrests in "false cases". "She has entrusted Chandrima Bhattacharya with overseeing such matters to ensure that no TMC workers get implicated in false cases," said an MLA who attended the meeting.The withdrawal of Falta candidate Jahangir Khan from the contest also emerged as a major point of discussion. According to sources, several MLAs demanded his immediate expulsion from TMC.As many as 15 MLAs were absent from Tuesday's meeting, with seven citing health reasons, said sources. One MLA said he was in Delhi for work. Speculation has surfaced that his visit may have involved meetings with Congress seniors.Uncertainty also remains over the appointment of Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as LoP. Sources said assembly secretariat has not yet formally recognised him for the post and informed him that the signed resolution of the TMC legislative party meeting, carrying signatures of 80 MLAs endorsing his appointment, must first be submitted. As many as 65 MLAs signed a letter dated May 6 regarding the issue, sources said.Borough chair quitsTMC councillor Debalina Biswas on Tuesday expressed her desire to resign from her post as Borough 9 chairperson. She wrote a letter and sent it to the KMC chairperson, Mala Roy. However, her resignation was not accepted till late evening because she had not sent the letter to mayor Firhad Hakim.