Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday vowed to visit Birbhum regularly to monitor the district’s state of affairs till the return of Trinamul Congress strongman Anubrata Mondal, who has been in prison since August last year after being arrested by the CBI in a cattle smuggling case.

“I vow to take care of Birbhum personally. I will look after every affair of the district directly.... They have put one or two leaders of my party in jail. Although he was usually kept under surveillance during the elections, people voted for us. I will take care of Birbhum till his return. I will visit (regularly) the district in a span of six months,” said Mamata said without naming Mondal in her address at a programme to distribute government benefits among people in Bolpur.

The Trinamul chief’s public comment came against the backdrop of her meeting with around 70 Trinamul leaders of Birbhum on Monday. Mamata had assured her party colleagues that she would take care of the organisation in the absence of Mondal.

Sources in Trinamul said Mamata’s public comment on taking control of Birbhum politically was an attempt to boost the morale of party workers at a time when there was dejection inside the party in a stronghold like Birbhum in the absence of Mondal.

“She knows there is none in the party who can replace Anubrata Mondal to run Trinamul’s affairs here. So, she did not take a risk at a time when many local leaders started to muscle up using the void following the arrest of her favourite leader in the district,” said a senior Trinamul leader in Birbhum.

Mamata had already strengthened the party’s core committee in Birbhum by including leaders like Birbhum MP Satabdi Roy and the leader from Nanoor, Sheikh Kajal. The duo were believed to belong to the anti-Mondal faction.

“Bobby (Firhad Hakim) will assist me as he visits the district often. There are my core committee members,” she said.

Sources said the organisation had been facing a tough time in Birbhum after the arrest of Mondal and a lot of leaders had been receiving summons from central agencies like the CBI. As Mondalused to unite all sparring factions, his absence prompted the factional leaders to work separately.

“People would try to cause panic about raids by central agencies. Many would try to scare you about the BJP. But this is my challenge to guard Birbhum. I would personally guard the district,” said Mamata, asking people not to be afraid of any kind of threats or conspiracies.

Sources said Mamata’sdecision to take over control of the district was not only significant politically but also because she wanted a grip on the district for the proposed Deocha-Pachami coal mine project.

On Wednesday, Mamata handed over job letters to 284 persons, who are members of the land-losing families in the coal mine project area.

“The first phase of work of the Deocha Pachami coalmine is done. The project would be completed within two years and Birbuum would be prosperous with a large industry. I thank those who gave the government land for the project,” said Mamata.