Amid the ongoing internal power struggle within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said that the decision on her potential successor would be made collectively by the party and not her alone.

“I am not the party, we are the party. It is a collective family, and decisions will be made collectively,” Mamata Banerjee told news channel News18 Bangla in an interview on Friday.

She also dismissed rumours around her dominance in the TMC.

Her remarks came amid the ongoing debate over the old guards, considered loyal to Mamata, versus the next-generation leaders, considered close to Abhishek Banerjee.

Abhishek, the TMC national general secretary and nephew of Mamata, is more popular than any other party leader among the party supporters.

The TMC party supremo also clarified that the TMC stands as a disciplined party where no one can dictate terms or dominate over others.

“The party will decide what is best for the people. We have MLAs, MPs, booth workers, this is a joint effort,” she said.

Banerjee said: “Everyone (old and new generation leaders) is important. Today’s newcomer will be tomorrow’s veteran.”

Talking about political consultants, she said: “Some strategists make surveys sitting at home and change them later. They can arrange things but not bring voters. It’s the booth workers who know the villages and people who actually win elections.”

“They are like artisans who do their work in exchange for money. But elections aren’t won by them,” she added.

INDIA bloc

Speaking about INDIA bloc alliance, Mamata Banerjee expressed dissatisfaction with the functioning of the opposition bloc, signaling her intent to take charge of the alliance if given an opportunity.

The TMC supremo said she could manage the dual responsibility of running the opposition front while continuing her role as the chief minister of West Bengal.

“I had formed the INDIA bloc, now it is up to those leading the front to manage it. If they can’t run the show, what can I do? I would just say that everyone needs to be taken along,” she said.

Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee said on Saturday that the central government should bring in a strict nationwide anti-rape bill that can effectively eliminate the menace of rape in the country.

“At a time when the country was protesting the RG Kar rape-murder, rape incidents kept occurring every 10 minutes, according to official data. Hence, I reiterate that only a strong anti-rape law can eliminate this menace. The Centre should act immediately and implement it through an ordinance if it wishes,” news agency PTI quoted Banerjee as saying an an event in West Bengal’s Amtala.

He also said that the President was yet to give consent to the anti-rape bill passed by the West Bengal Assembly.

Notably, the Aparajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024 was unanimously passed in the state Assembly on September 3, amid nationwide outrage over the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

He said that if the amendment was passed, it could be implemented across the country.

“We have demonstrated our intent to tackle such crimes by introducing this law. I have condemned the RG Kar incident and said such perpetrators have no right to live. They should be given capital punishment,” he added.

Highlighting that the Bill was pending with the President, he said, “If the President doesn’t give assent to the Aparajita Bill, I will bring a private member’s Bill.”

Banerjee said that doctors can reach out directly to his office to report any attacks on them. He also said that a 10-member priority group has been formed to take care of their grievances.

A helpline number can also be used by doctors if they are harassed or attacked, he said.

The body of the 31-year-old trainee doctor was found in the seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. An autopsy later confirmed that she was raped and murdered. Sanjoy Roy, a civil volunteer with the Kolkata Police, was arrested the next day in connection with the incident.

(With inputs from PTI)