Bengal's ruling Trinamul Congress has decided to take action against at least 300 elected members of at least 150 rural bodies across the state for either "helping" the Opposition or going against the party's official nominees to form panchayat boards.

A source in Trinamul said they received complaints from over 100 rural bodies from across the state where some elected party members either supported the members of Opposition parties or voted against the Trinamul-nominated candidate as chief or deputy chief of the board concerned.

The ruling party has also drawn up a list of names of its leaders who have allegedly played "a key role" to form boards in violation of the party's instructions.

"The district leaders have been asked to issue show-cause notices to elected members who have violated the party line. They will be asked to explain their conduct. If their answers fail to satisfy the party, an action-taking process will be initiated (against these members)," said a source in Trinamul.

In this year's July 8 rural polls, Trinamul focused on "discipline" among its party leaders.

The party's national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee centrally sent the names of candidates for the rural polls. Later, after the results, the party also sent names of its office-bearers in all rural bodies from Calcutta after discussing with district leaders to avoid the grassroots practice of violating the party whip or instruction.

"It is embarrassing for Trinamul as these elected members and leaders violated party instructions. Taking action against them is important before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. It will send a message that the party will not tolerate indiscipline anymore," said a Trinamul leader in Calcutta.

Trinamul members who have become rural body chief or deputy chief by contesting against official nominees would be asked to resign as soon as possible.

If they do not resign, they will be suspended from the party.

In addition, rebel Trinamul leaders will be removed from their organisational posts.

Trinamul cannot dislodge the rebels as the panchayat act does not allow moving a no-confidence motion till any rural board completes two-and-a-half years from the date of its formation.

In Bankura and Purulia, the party has already sent showcause letters to at least 20 such elected members in the past two days.

At Latiabani gram panchayat in Bankura's Gangajalghati, Trinamul won 12 out of 17 seats, whereas the BJP and the CPM won three and two seats, respectively.

Although Trinamul had a clear majority, five rebel ruling party members formed the board with the help of two CPM members, defeating the official Trinamul nominee.

Trinamul leader Manik Mondal, who became the chief of the rural body, was showcaused with four others for violating the party's whip.

"There are three such gram panchayats in our district where the party's instruction was violated. We have showcaused members and leaders involved. We have sent the list to the office of our leader Abhishek Banerjee. We will suspend them once instruction comes from the top leadership," said Alok Mukherjee, the Trinamul president for Bankura's Bishnupur organisational district.

The showcause letters were also sent to members of five such gram panchayats in Purulia.

The son-in-law of Trinamul leader Sheikh Sufiyan, who had been the election agent of chief minister Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram in the 2021 Assembly polls, became chief of a gram panchayat with BJP support on Thursday, speculations on Sufiyan's relationship with Trinamul defector and BJP Nandigram MLA Suvendu Adhikari.

In many rural bodies, the Opposition formed the boards despite Trinamul's clear majority.

In Murshidabad's Beldanga-I panchayat samiti, Trinamul had a clear majority with 22 members out of 39. The Congress, the CPM and the BJP won 11, four and two seats, respectively. The Trinamul's official nominee for rural body chief Jamil Chowdhury was defeated by Congress's Azad Mondal as eight elected Trinamul members voted against Chowdhury.

In Binodpur gram panchayat of Malda's Englishbazar, Trinamul won nine out of 19 seats whereas the BJP and the Independents won four seats each and the CPM two. Trinamul's Raju Mian became the chief of the rural body. Jamil Sheikh, the Trinamul nominee for the post of deputy chief, was defeated by Independent candidate Moquebel Mian as at least four Trinamul members voted against the party's official candidate.

"These are just a few examples out of over 100 rural bodies. If the party shuns those who betrayed it, it would have an impact in the Lok Sabha polls next year," a Trinamul leader said.