Mamata clips Mukul Roy's wings

West Bengal CM appoints Subrata Bakshi as additional all-India general secretary, move seen as a bid to sideline Roy

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday made sweeping changes in the Trinamool Congress amid speculation of a split.

The most important change was appointing Subrata Bakshi as additional all-India general secretary, which is being widely seen as a bid to clip Mukul Roy’s wings.

Roy is the national general secretary of the party. The change was announced by senior leader Partha Chatterjee after a meeting called by Banerjee at her Kalighat residence.

The meeting was held to plan strategies for the upcoming civic polls. Roy, however, stayed away from the meeting, fuelling speculation that he was planning to split the party.

SOMETHING FISHY

• A meeting was held to plan strategies for the upcoming civic polls
   
• Roy stayed away from the meeting, fuelling speculation that he was planning to split the party
   
• His views on the CBI probe into Saradha scam is the cause of the rift between him and the chief minister
   
• Senior leader Partha Chatterjee said whatever had happened at the meeting was for good
   
• The party downplayed Roy’s absence, saying he was busy

Roy’s views on the CBI probe into Saradha scam is the cause of rift between him and the chief minister.

Roy had said he would cooperate with the CBI probe, a sharp contrast from his party’s position that the central agency's investigation was a political conspiracy hatched by the BJP. He was interrogated by the central agency last month, but was not arrested, as was expected by some in the TMC.

Chatterjee on Saturday told media that whatever had happened at the meeting was for good.

The party downplayed Roy’s absence, saying Roy was busy with some party work.

From the changes initiated by Banerjee, it was apparent that she was trying to stem the disenchantment with the party leadership. Dinesh Trivedi who was vocal about Narendra Modi’s good work recently, has been appointed vice-president of the party. MP, Shubhendu Adhikari, will oversee the party's activities in Assam.

Adhikari was believed to be in touch with the BJP. In fact, while addressing the last coordination committee meeting, Banerjee had said the BJP was blackmailing Adhikari to join them.

Chatterjee said the changes were made keeping in mind TMC’s national importance. “Trinamool is assuming national importance,” he said.

Party MPs Derek O'Brien and Kalyan Banerjee would be in touch with like-minded parties. Incidentally, Banerjee had extended her support to Aam Aadmi Party ahead of the Delhi polls.

Derek O'Brien would also oversee the party's organisation in the North East and Kerala while Subrata Mukherjee has been given charge of Tripura.