TMC workers divided on Mamata’s protests

Cadre within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) are divided over party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation move, according to highly placed sources within the TMC.

The Trinamool Congress primarily thrives on two strong lobbies, namely the Mamata Banerjee lobby and the Mukul Roy lobby and if sources are to be believed, the Mukul Roy lobby, which includes several senior MPs and MLAs, has been strongly critical of the way Mamata Banerjee has been holding rallies and protest marches against the Central government and its demonetisation scheme.

“Several senior leaders within the TMC are not happy with the way Didi (Mamata) has launched an all out attack on the Narendra Modi government’s demonetisation scheme. Several leaders are also averse to the idea of Didi’s tour and rallies in different states against demonetisation, as they feel that this could have a negative impact  on the party, which has already been neck deep in trouble over the Sarada and Narada scams,” a source close to a senior leader in the party said.

The source also said that senior TMC leaders don’t support Mamata’s strong opposition to the scheme as they fear that the strong and adamant position taken by her could also lead to the reopening of the Sarada and Narada scam files by the Modi government. The files are currently in cold storage.

However, Trinamool Congress vice president Mukul Roy has rubbished any such divide within the party, maintaining all is well and each and every member of the party supports the decision taken by their leader.

Mamata Banerjee has been on the forefront of the opposition brigade whichhas launched an aggressive campaign against PM Modi’s demonetisation scheme soon after its announcement on 8 November. She has also held several rallies and protest marches not only in the national capital, but also in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Mamata Banerjee is also likely to hold another rally in Prime Minister’s home state Gujarat along with Hardik Patel. She is also believed to be in talks with Hardik Patel to mobilise the opposition in Gujarat for her rally.

Sources close to the Chief Minister have said that Mamata Banerjee’s fierce and active participation in the opposition arena is because she is preparing herself to be launched in national politics through the demonetisation issue, and it is perhaps the best issue through which one can be launched in the national politics as it touches the nerve of every common man.

“Didi is preparing the ground for her launch in national politics. For her, this struggle is like Singur part II (Singur part I was the struggle for land of the poor famers that she fought against the Left government in Bengal, through which she rode to power in West Bengal defeating 34 years of Left rule) and she is doing everything possible to utilise every opportunity,” the source close to the Chief Minister said.