Mamata Banerjee's reassertion of herself as Trinamool's sole decision-maker, evident in its national executive council meeting on Monday, has raised questions on Abhishek Banerjee's proposed organisational overhaul, which seems to have been put on hold for now.

"The inclusion of the old guard as members of the new committees confirms that Abhishek's recommendations to remove underperformers (based on Lok Sabha poll results) will not be implemented immediately," said a Trinamool leader.

"It certainly demotivated many who want to see Abhishek as the face of the organisation after his aunt (Mamata)," he added.

During the party's Martyrs' Day rally on July 21, Abhishek publicly stated that the party would act within three months against underperforming functionaries in TMC-run civic and rural bodies, and against organisational heads in areas where the party lagged behind the BJP in the general election.

His office had made a performance report on the functionaries of around 120 civic bodies, which he had given Mamata before going abroad for his eye treatment.

During an informal talk with journalists on his birthday, November 7, the Diamond Harbour MP said he had also recommended the removal of several district chiefs.

The three-month deadline set by Abhishek passed, but no such changes were made.

"Given the outcome of yesterday's (Monday's) meeting, we received inputs suggesting that Didi (Mamata) has put Abhishek's recommendations on hold. We’ll have to wait until at least December second week to see if the impasse between them is resolved," said a Trinamool leader close to Abhishek.

"Delaying the implementation has once again sent out the message of Didi's sole authority, although Abhishek has largely been looking after the party's organisational affairs since the 2021 Assembly polls," he added.

A Trinamool insider said Mamata would announce changes after they were vetted by her trusted inner circle. "In case of changes of civic body functionaries, Didi is likely to speak to urban development minister Firhad Hakim. Although changes seem inevitable, they will be overseen by Didi," the insider said.

A Trinamool leader close to Abhishek said that the party's No. 2 was not particularly concerned about this. "He has previously stated that the implementation of his recommendations is not his concern, as it is Mamata alone who can make the final decision," the source said.

However, voices of dissent have started emerging. Trinamool’s Bharatpur MLA Humayun Kabir, a staunch Abhishek supporter, openly criticised leaders in Mamata's inner circle. Kabir, talking to journalists outside the Assembly on Tuesday, said: "I doubt the intentions of those close to Mamata Banerjee. Do they truly want her to be in power in Bengal for long? Firhad Hakim has been given charge of Murshidabad. Can he say how many times he has met district leaders?"

Like earlier, Kabir again asked why Abhishek wasn't deputy chief minister.

During Monday’s meeting, Mamata said leaders making controversial comments should be issued warnings up to three times, with suspension on the fourth occurrence.