Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday spoke out on the debate over the role of veterans and youth in the party. He asserted that there were no differences between the old guard and the new generation. There has been talk of feuding within the party over the issue.
“Recently there have been reports of differences between older and younger members of the party. However, I want to emphasise that the party remains united under the leadership of our supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee,” he said during an event at Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas district.
The Trinamool leadership have been sniping at each other on this issue. Mr. Banerjee has been insisting on introducing fresh blood whereas party chairperson Mamata Banerjee has given the impression that she does not want to dispense with the old guard.
“I did say that age is a factor in politics, and it might reduce the ability to work. At the age of 36, I was on the road for two months during ‘Trinamoole Nabo Jowar (Trinamool new wave)‘ . Will I be able to do this at 70? It will not be possible, and it must be accepted. In 20years, my ability to work may reduce and it is likely to further go down in 40 years,” the Trinamool general secretary said.
Soldier of the party
Mr. Banerjee said that despite his feelings on the issue he would continue to work for the party. “Mamata Banerjee is running the party. Her old colleagues are with her and even the new leaders are standing by her. I will always be available to work for the party in whichever manner it sees fit as I am a soldier of the party,” he added.
The Diamond Harbour MP said that in 2024 if he is selected as a candidate, he would have to dedicate time to the Lok Sabha constituency as it was his duty to the people. “My political identity has developed because of the people of Diamond Harbour. My priority might be Diamond Harbour and its people, but I will execute every responsibility given to me by my party. If asked by the party, I will take Mamata Banerjee’s photo and Trinamool’s flag to any booth across the state,” he added.
During the day Mr. Banerjee disbursed the Rs 1,000 monthly old age pension to 76,120 people in his constituency. The Trinamool leader was confident that he would increase his margin of victory in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
“Previously, the victory margin was 3,22,000. This time, it will be around 4,00,000. We made Diamond Harbour the best in the state, now we will make it the best in the country,” Mr. Banerjee said.
Trinamool leader shot
In another development Trinamool Congress leader Satyan Chowdhury was shot dead at Baharampur in Murshidabad district. Unidentified gunmen shot the Trinamool leader near his residence. Mr. Chowdhury was rushed to hospital and declared dead on arrival.
The speculation in political circles is whether the Trinamool leader was shot for political reasons. The district was a hot spot for political violence during the panchayat polls in 2023. With the murder on Sunday, apprehensions of violence have once again surfaced ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
