Trinamool to restructure party organizations in Malda and Darjeeling after ‘whitewash’

SOUMYA DE SARKAR, EOI, Malda, 22 May 2016: There is likely to be huge reshuffle in the organizations of Trinamool Congress in Malda and Darjeeling following the debacle of the party in those two districts of North Bengal in recently concluded assembly elections.

According to some influential sources in the state’s ruling party, the district Trinamool chiefs of both the districts would be asked to step down shortly. “The change in the organizations in Malda and Darjeeling is only a matter of time. It is expected that both Moazzem Hossain, the district Trinamool president of Malda and Ranjan Sarkar, the party chief of Darjeeling would voluntarily tender their resignations. Otherwise they would be asked to quit the crucial posts,” said the sources.

It may be mentioned that out of 12 assembly constituencies in Malda Trinamool failed to bag a single one. In Darjeeling as well the ruling party failed to open its account. The Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee despite her emphatic victory across the state expressed strong discontent with the party’s disaster in two of North Bengal districts.

Moazzem Hossain was appointed the district Trinamool president of Malda replacing Sabitri Mitra, the then minister, in 2014 after he had been defeated in Malda south parliamentary constituency. He was not only defeated in the parliamentary elections but ended as the ‘poor third’ also.

This year Hossain contested in the assembly elections also for Trinamool from Malatipur constituency where Left Front and Congress fought against each other in exception to the poll-alliance between the two parties. But incidentally even in such a quadrangular fight he ended in third position again. Trinamool sources said that party leadership observed apart from his consecutive failure in poll-battles no significant development in the organizational strength in the district was recorded during Hossain’s tenure as the district party chief.

According to sources in the Trinamool, recently defeated minister Krishnendu Choudhury may be made the district Trinamool chief again. Choudhury was in the post before also. Hence, his experience may be utilized.

But the same sources informed that party’s top brass was also considering whether it would be wise to make Choudhury the party’s face in Malda especially after his recent defeat by a huge margin of nearly 39927 votes.

Choudhury, however, refrained from commenting in this regard. “Party’s decision is the ultimate. I have no comment. I am happy that our leader Mamata Banerjee herself is overseeing the district.”

Hossain, on the other hand, sounded as if in a dilemma. “Mamata Banerjee asked me to meet her on Tuesday. If I am given any other assignment, I would try to fulfill with my capacity,” was his brief comment.

Ranjan Sarkar, who was appointed the district Trinamool president in October last year after the party’s consecutive defeats in elections of Siliguri municipal corporation and Siliguri mahakuma parishad, did not receive the phone despite several attempts.

It is further learnt from Trinamool sources that the name of Nantu Paul, the opposition leader of Siliguri municipal corporation is at the top among the alternative-faces for the post of Darjeeling district Trinamool president. “Paul was formerly attached to mass organization of CPM. Hence, he acquired the organization skill. As he was in the Congress as well, he knows the weaknesses of the political rivals,” the sources in the Trinamool said.

Paul, however, made a cautious reply. “I have not yet heard that such changes are in the pipeline. I am an obedient soldier of the party and would fulfill whatever the responsibility is bestowed on my shoulder by the party supremo,” he said.