At a time when the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) is trying to cope with the Opposition’s challenge in the Bardhaman blast case and the Saradha scam, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will preside over a party meeting expected to be attended by its entire leadership.
“The meeting will take place on October 17 and Ms. Banerjee will be present,” Food and Supplies Minister Jyotipriya Mallick told The Hindu . He said that about 350 party leaders including MPs and MLAs will attend the meeting.
Hinting that the ruling party in Bengal is struggling to cope with the challenges posed by the Saradha scam and the Bardhaman blast, a party leader told The Hindu that the meeting is being held to chalk out a “strategy to counter the Opposition’s attack.”
A section of party leaders is puzzled due to the scale of the meeting. “Only yesterday (Saturday) I came to know that MLAs also have to take part in the meeting,” said a party MLA. According to party sources, the strategy for the upcoming civic polls will be decided in the meeting. Mr. Mallick, however, said the meeting is being held to exchange “greetings of Vijaya Dashami.”
This comes in the backdrop that the Trinamool Congress has been embarrassed several times by renegades such as suspended party MP Kunal Ghosh and former leader Asif Khan who has repeatedly accused the party leadership of being involved in the Saradha scam.
Last month Mr. Ghosh alleged that it was Ms. Banerjee who benefited most from the scam-tainted Saradha Group’s media wing. Mr. Khan, who recently quit the AITC, had also pointed fingers at party general secretary Mukul Roy on Saradha scam.
