Internal rift in Trinamool Congress
A rift has allegedly arisen between Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, who is the General Secretary of Trinamool Congress, regarding the removal of Dr Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College. This comes after protests over the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the hospital.
Abhishek Banerjee has chosen to stay away from the controversy by not joining his aunt’s rallies and foot marches demanding quick action from the CBI, the agency responsible for the case.
Sources close to Abhishek Banerjee expressed that the party’s general secretary was unhappy about Dr Ghosh’s sudden suspension and his subsequent prestigious appointment at Calcutta National Medical College.
Also read: Kolkata Horror: Dr Ghosh ‘sold’ unclaimed bodies, says former RG Kar official
Abhishek believes Mamata did not act strongly against alleged corrupt practices at RG Kar MCH
Sources said Abhishek Banerjee thinks that Mamata Banerjee, renowned for her reputation of integrity, did not address the alleged corrupt activities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital firmly.
Sources have revealed that a group of doctors with close ties to the Chief Minister is believed to be backing Dr Ghosh, and this particular faction is being closely watched on social media for possible corrupt activities. It is reported that Abhishek Banerjee believes a strong stance is required to uphold the party’s reputation.
After the hospital was attacked on August 14, Abhishek Banerjee acted quickly by contacting the Police Commissioner to emphasize the urgency, in contrast to her aunt’s more cautious reaction.
Also read: Kolkata Horror: Mamata Banerjee should resign, says Nirbhaya’s mother
However, Mamata Banerjee has attributed the internal conflict to Santanu Sen, a previous Rajya Sabha MP affiliated with Abhishek Banerjee, whom she ousted from both the NRS Hospital’s patients’ committee and the party’s spokesperson role, as reported by sources.
They said she has challenged her nephew for not being actively involved in the crisis and recommended he join rallies to show responsibility.