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New Delhi, Nov 13 (IANS) West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) is said to have started preparing a list of probable candidates well ahead of the assembly elections – expected to be held in the first quarter of 2026 – that is expected to involve major changes and include faces representing a mix of “old and new”.
With party general secretary and three-time MP from Diamond Harbor Abhishek Banerjee leading the list, the list was expected to include names of young leaders along with some elders – where the cut-off age was expected to be “maximum around 65 years”.
Trinamool president and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is certainly out of the ambit because, as she and her party colleagues have reiterated, it is her name that is contesting in all the 294 assembly constituencies of West Bengal.
Thus, the 70-year-old firebrand leader remains the face and driving engine for the party. She is the sole authority and sole ally to keep the various factions together. As always, the final candidate list will be reviewed by them.
The “old versus new” debate took an ugly turn for the party with other members openly protesting against veteran MPs like Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Saugata Ray and Kalyan Banerjee ahead of last year’s Lok Sabha elections.
However, the party supremo stood by the candidates of her choice and they all proceeded to successfully return to Parliament. The major voices of protest that were public then have now subsided.
In the West Bengal Assembly, more than a quarter of Trinamool’s current MLAs are seventy years of age or older.
However, not all of them lack political motivation and their activities could push Trinamool’s successor to seek reconciliation, some party leaders said, citing public reports in their support.
According to him, the “General” (as Abhishek is referred to by a section of his followers) has praised some of the seasoned leaders for their enthusiasm and dedication which was covered by regional newspapers.
Among them, trade union activist and state minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, now 81. He represents the Khardaha assembly seat and interestingly, has been a keen boxer during his educational days and has also done a basic mountaineering course.
The other is Ashok Kumar Deb, 76, who represents the Budge Budge assembly constituency, from which he has won six consecutive times, first in 1996 for the Congress.
Such instances are said to have prompted Abhishek to reconsider his staunch stance against pushing leaders above 65 years of age into the heat, dirt and dust of elections.
It is said that Mamata Banerjee’s trust and affection towards old colleagues and confidants has also inspired the young leader to create a blend of youth and experience.
However, his followers confidently reported that the “maximum” number of names would be of leaders under the age of 60.
Although the “young versus old” debate is far from over, there could be a realistic mix of names that could be effective against the new rise of the state’s main opposition party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Earlier, young leaders like Kunal Ghosh had objected to comments by veterans like Sudeep or Subrata Bakshi, which seemed to weigh Abhishek’s leadership against Mamata.
Meanwhile, Abhishek has made a comeback after Mamata Banerjee “restructured” the party leadership. He has mostly been staying in the background, quietly observing the debate among the party ranks.
This year, as the state heads towards another election, he has made a comeback by playing a major role in restructuring the party down to the district level.
The ongoing organization restructuring is seen as a move to strengthen the party against anti-incumbency after more than 14 years of uninterrupted rule; And allegations of corruption, indiscipline and infighting – sometimes leading to physical altercations.
However, in his efforts towards introducing change, he has never been seen publicly interfering in administrative matters, but rather sharing his views on social media.
–IANS
JB/Red