TMC internal bickering, or political game in Kolkata Uttar Lok Sabha seat?

Incidents leading to the buildup for Lok Sabha 2024 election at Kolkata Uttar (North) Lok Sabha constituency in the West Bengal capital brought to the fore alleged tussle within ruling Trinamool Congress

The incidents leading to the buildup for the Lok Sabha 2024 election at Kolkata Uttar (North) Lok Sabha constituency in the West Bengal capital brought to the fore an alleged tussle within the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). A perceived thrust within the upper echelons of the party for replacing the elderly with young faces was being reported as a power struggle between the “old” and “new”.

Here, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew and heir apparent, Abhishek Banerjee is seen as a leader ushering in new ideas and modern methods in the party, polls, and politics. He is currently the party national general secretary and two-time MP, running for a hattrick from the Diamond Harbour constituency.

The TMC chairperson herself tries to keep alive the relation she has shared with the veterans in her arduous political journey. She is known to have even condoned the errs and ills of some partymen when they came knocking on her door. The younger Banerjee is today perceived as a more resolute and intense leader.

Nonetheless, reports – whether in the media or on the ground – of apparent “retirement” were circulating over Sudip Bandyopadhyay as well. He has represented Kolkata Uttar Lok Sabha constituency since the first election was held in 2009 after the seat came into existence. He retained it in 2014 and 2019. Before its delimitation, he won twice from the erstwhile seat of Calcutta North West in 1988 and 1999.

Since his name came up for nomination this time, the septuagenarian leader has been facing brickbats from a section within the TMC, including workers and corporators in his own constituency. Sudip, despite a short fall-out with the supremo earlier, has maintained close contacts with Mamata. He keeps his leader updated through chats – in person or over the phone – but mostly over text messages.

The controversy took another twist with Tapas Roy (68), deputy chief whip of TMC in the current assembly, joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and going on to contest against Sudip. With Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya – in alliance with the Left -- also in the fray, Kolkata Uttar constituency seems poised for a triangular contest.

Tapas Roy quit TMC in early May citing several allegations against the party. Reports suggest that he has also been at loggerheads with Sudip, while TMC leaders accuse him of deserting the party after the ED raided his residence in connection with the alleged irregularities in civic body recruitments.

Roy had criticised TMC leaders for not standing up for him when he was “wrongly accused” in the case. He has also denounced the handling of the infamous Sandeshkhali incident where a TMC leader has been taken into custody over a case related to land grabbing and intimidation, and also accused of abusing women.

The BJP nominee was first elected as MLA on a Congress ticket in 1996 from Vidyasagar Assembly constituency. In 2001, Roy won the Assembly election for the TMC from Bara Bazar. Subsequently, he shifted to Baranagar Assembly constituency in 2011; and since then, has been a TMC legislator from the seat.

Meanwhile, 79-year-old Pradip Bhattacharya was once among those Congress veterans who tried to influence the party high command since the turn of the century to ally with Mamata to dislodge the Communists in West Bengal.

The situation has turned the other way now.

Currently, neither the Congress nor the Left have any representation in the West Bengal legislative assembly despite being in power in the state at different times. Even the seven assembly segments in Kolkata Uttar Lok Sabha constituency are all held by the TMC, where one is represented by Sudip’s wife Nayana (Chowrangee) since a bye-election held in 2014. She was earlier MLA from Bowbazar Assembly constituency (2001-2006) for the TMC.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the total number of electors in Kolkata Uttar Lok Sabha constituency was 14,44,082. Out of this, the voters’ turnout was registered as 9,50,613 or 65.83% of the total number of electors.

Incidentally, there is a significant number of migrants who own or work in the shops that dot the markets in this constituency. Many of them, mainly from Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, etc., have been here for generations. Several are also employed as labourers, drivers, and rickshaw pullers. This population has significantly contributed to the state capital in many ways and constitute an important part of supporting the economy in the ‘City of Joy’.