Trinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee has asked her party leaders from Birbhum to pull up socks in view of the tough battle ahead. Miss Banerjee today met the leaders from Birbhum at her Kalighat residence this afternoon. Party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and state president Subrata Bakshi also attended the meeting.

Referring to Anubrata Mondol, popularly known as Kesto, Miss Banerjee said he had been put behind the bars without any reason. Mr Mondol was arrested two years ago in connection with the cattle smuggling case. His daughter has also been arrested. Both father and daughter have been kept in prison without any trial, she said. She said he would get back his old position once he comes out of prison. She reportedly said that had Kesto been here the intra-party trouble could not have risen at all.

Mr Mondol was the district president. He had great influence over the party leaders and the rank and file in the district. Despite requests, he refused to contest in the Assembly election and preferred to work for the party’s organization. Mr Mondol used to address the problems and addressed issues the leaders had been suffering from. Actor-turned -politician Satabdi Roy, won from Birbhum Lok Sabha seat two consecutive times, 2014 and 2019.

Over the years she has developed grassroots contacts and is popular in her constituency. It was learnt that Miss Banerjee expressed her displeasure over the recent activities of Kajol Sheikh. An eight-member core committee has been set up excluding Sheikh. He has been asked to look after Nanur and Ketugram areas and not the entire district.

It was learnt that Miss Banerjee is not happy over the way he had left the meeting earlier to discuss the Poush Mela. “We give responsibility and a post, but dereliction of duty will result in removal from the post” she reportedly told Sheikh. Though the BJP performed badly in the 2021 Assembly election, it has developed its organization in the district. Miss Banerjee is not leaving any stone unturned to secure the party’s position in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Today, she had asked the district leaders to bury all the differences and work together to ensure the party’s victory.

She reportedly cautioned them that the party would not tolerate any kind of highhandedness and misdemeanour and stern action will be taken against the errant leaders. Earlier, Miss Banerjee had held a meeting with the leaders from Murshidabad. She will go to the districts to take stock of the situation from February. She will meet all the district leaders and prepare the roadmap to be followed during the campaign.

Today, she also asked the leaders to go to the people and listen to their grievances. “Remember, ours is Ma, Maati Manush government and our prime aim is to give benefits to the people,” she said.