The Trinamool Congress Siksha Cell — the teachers' wing of the party — on Friday suspended two of its leaders, known as die-hard followers of Abhishek Banerjee, on charges of "anti-party" activities.
A source said Bratya Basu, the state education minister who heads the teachers' wing of the party, suspended Monisankar Mondal, the vice-president of the West Bengal College and University Professors' Association (WBCUPA), and Pritam Haldar, the working president of TMC's Madhyamik Siksha Cell.
"It is a completely organisational decision. The head of the Trinamool Siksha Cell, Bratya Basu, had suspended a few of the members for their 'disturbing behaviour,'" said TMC leader Kunal Ghosh.
Although Trinamool Congress leaders did not officially comment on the sudden suspensions and could not clarify the exact reasons behind them, many insiders pointed out that the duo were die-hard supporters of Abhishek and had advocated for his greater role in the government.
After the TMC won 24 out of 42 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, Mondal was one of those who put up hundreds of posters and flexes in and around Calcutta with Abhishek's picture and caption "Game Changer Dada".
"When I put up posters praising our leader Abhishek Banerjee, Bratya Basu, who is also president of the WBCUPA, threatened me with suspension if I continued campaigning for our leader. I did not abandon my path.... There was no clarification about the reason behind my suspension, but it is clear that it was because I am a die-hard follower of Abhishek," Mondal told The Telegraph on Friday evening.
The suspensions sparked controversy inside the Trinamool Congress about the growing distance between party supremo Mamata Banerjee and her nephew and heir-apparent Abhishek.
"In several events, Didi has clearly stated that she would have the final word on organisational or government matters. We were expecting that the distance between the top two is resolved shortly. But today's suspension of two of Abhishek's followers has sent a clear message that the situation has not been resolved yet," said a TMC leader.
