Kolkata/Karimpur, Sept. 08: Mamata Banerjee on Thursday apparently cautioned the party’s Krishnagar MP Mahua Moitra not to interfere in organizational affairs beyond her constitutional jurisdiction and at the same time help the leadership by concentrating her activities in her own area only.
At the booth level workers’ meet in Calcutta she also categorically told the MP to leave party issues in Nadia’s Karimpur to Murshidabad MP Abu Taher.
Mahua was elected as MLA in 2016. But she was nominated as the party candidate in 2019 for the Loke Sabha poll replacing Tapas Paul and won the seat for consecutive two terms. Bimalendu Sinha Roy later won the assembly by-election in Karimpur.
“Karimpur is no more Mahua’s jurisdiction. It’s under Abu Taher…He will look after it, Mamata said making an apparent reference to the fact that the Karimpur segment which prior to becoming an MP represented by Mahua, should exclusively be looked after by Murshidabad MP Abu Taher since the segment in Nadia falls under his parliamentary constituency.
Mamata’s order came in the wake of a number of complaints she received from Karimpur accusing the MP of running a parallel organizational and administrative network with the support of a section administrative officer and party workers ignoring the party’s official guidelines, local MLA and newly announced organizational committees.
Party insiders in Nadia termed Mamata’s announcement as a “much awaited” decision. Party’s Karimpur MLA Bimalendu Sinha Roy, a retired headmaster, has welcomed the Chief Minister’s decision claiming that it be “beneficial” for the people of Karimpur. Speaking to The NfN Sinha Roy said, “She only comes to Karimpur to create problems. Due to her presence in Karimpur the organizational unity is seriously being damaged…”
“I am two times MLA of Karimpur. She often visits Karimpur and with the support of a pet BDO, she functions on her own ignoring me. She did not even allow me to work at all. This has for obvious reason came to notice of Mamata Banerjee….”
Local sources said Mahua’s high-handedness angered several leaders and party workers since she was assigned the charges of party affairs for the Krishnagar organizational committee prior to the assembly poll. She was later removed but allegedly went on to continue her interference.
“Mahua’s blatant attitude to ignore all even the MLA never encouraged by Didi and Abhishek…She was earlier cautioned at the party meeting in Krishnagar. But Mahua remained incorrigible”, a senior Trinamul leader in Krishnagar said.
Murshidabad MP Abu Taher has, however, found a “bond” with Karimpur that leads Mahua to visit the town repeatedly. “Mahua’s role and contribution in Karimpur cannot be ignored. She was instrumental to break the CPM bastion”, Abu Taher said. Mahua Moitra was unavailable for comment.