Trinamool strongman Anubrata Mondal on Wednesday evening took small steps to resume his political activities, amid murmurs about whether he can still dominate the party’s rank and file, as he did before his two-year stint in Tihar jail.

Mondal, who returned to his Bolpur residence on Tuesday, faces questions from some within the party regarding his political reinstatement as district party chief.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who was in Bolpur on Tuesday, did not meet her long-time, trusted lieutenant.

“Dada arrived at the Bolpur party office around 5pm on Wednesday. His presence has brought life back to the three-storey district party office,” said a Mondal loyalist.

Since Mondal’s arrest by the CBI in August 2022, the Bolpur Trinamool Bhavan — the district headquarters — had gradually become deserted. None of the senior leaders were willing to hold meetings there, even during the recent Lok Sabha elections.

“Keshto da (Mondal) used to marshal the office. After his arrest and subsequent imprisonment in Delhi’s Tihar jail, all senior leaders stopped coming to the office. At times, it felt like a haunted house,” said a TMC worker, one of the few who kept the officegates open.

As Mondal returned to the party office, many local leaders from various blocks and civic bodies gathered to meet him. Mondal had refused to meet state correctional homes minister Chandranath Sinha and Suri MLA Bikash Roy Chowdhury on Tuesday. Both leaders visited the party office for a meeting with him on Wednesday.

“Although he is not fully well, Keshto da will try to visit the party office every evening,” said BolpurMP Asit Mal.

“He met each senior leader and took stock of the party’s situation,” Mal added.

As Mondal returned, the photographs of core committee members were reportedly removed from the partyoffice walls.

However, despite his return, a TMC source indicated that Mondal would not be given full control overthe district.

“The party has not yet dissolved the core committee formed by Mamata Banerjee to manage the district in Mondal’s absence. The committee will continue to work as it did before his return,” said a party leader. “If the core committee remains in place, the position of district president holds little value. The party has not officially reinstated Mondal as district chief.”

Mondal told reporters he would speak to them after treatment for leg pain.

A senior TMC leader in Calcutta said the party would tread cautiously.

“Nothing will be decided now. As far as I know, Didi will determine how Birbhum’s political dynamics will go after Diwali,” he said.