Trinamul national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Friday outlined the action plan for his party's rank and file to secure victory in two Lok Sabha seats in Congress stronghold Malda, which Trinamul has never won.

"The contribution of Malda and Murshidabad in forming the third Trinamul government in 2021 (Assembly polls) must be acknowledged. I am confident of the party's victory in both of these seats," said Abhishek after a two-hour meeting with leaders of both Malda North and South seats in a private hotel in Old Malda.

In the run-up to this Lok Sabha polls, Abhishek has decided to hold several meetings with the leaders in the districts, especially in those areas where the BJP gained its strength in 2019.

Malda — a Congress stronghold known for Abu Barkat Ataur (ABA) Ghani Khan Choudhury — the eight-time MP of the Grand Old Party since 1980. After his demise, his brother Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury won the seat in a by-poll.

After the seat was bifurcated in 2009 — Malda South and Malda North — the Congress's victory continued in both Lok Sabha seats two times, consecutively. In 2019, though the BJP's Khagen Murmu won from the Malda North seat, the Congress's Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury retained the Malda South seat. This time the Grand Old Party has fielded Isha Khan Choudhury, the nephew of party patriarch A.B.A. Ghani Khan Choudhury.

Although Abhishek refrained from commenting on the issues discussed in the 'indoor' meeting, it has been learnt from the Trinamul sources that he asked the leaders to go all out in winning the two Lok Sabha seats in Malda which Trinamul never won since its inception.

"We won eight out of 12 Assembly segments in Malda in the 2021 Assembly polls. The party's performance in panchayat polls in 2023 was also very good. Then why we will not win these seats? We have to work together to ensure victory in these two seats. If you fail to do so, then you have to face the consequences," a leader present in the meeting quoted Abhishek as saying.

Abhishek said he discussed the strengths and weaknesses were discussed at length. "I cannot disclose that indoor discussion before you (media)," he said.

"We are charged by his words and he gave us several instructions to ensure a lead where were are lagging behind the BJP. We would start working on those instructions from tomorrow," said Nihar Ranjan Ghosh, the Chanchal MLA.