West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee with the party's National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
Credit: PTI Photo
Kolkata: Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday said he has submitted to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee a proposal for a performance-based reshuffle within the party's organisation in various towns, aiming to strengthen its effectiveness and improve electoral accountability.
Banerjee, the national general secretary of the party who is the de facto number two in the TMC, said the reshuffle when effected will affect the district organisations and leaders holding various posts in the around 125 municipalities that the party runs.
"Performance will be the key basis for this reshuffle. Just being loyal to a political leader is not going to protect you. Everyone has to perform as per their roles in the party's organisation," he said while interacting with a small group of journalists at his residence in Kalighat.
Banerjee said the changes were necessary to ensure that leaders were actively contributing to the party's growth and stability.
"Around 125 municipalities will see a reshuffle, especially in areas where the results were disappointing," he added.
The roles of the councillors as well as the chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of the civic bodies where the party did not meet its expectations in the Lok Sabha elections will be scrutinised, said the nephew of the chief minister.
Banerjee, the MP of Diamond Harbour, indicated that a lack of active leadership in certain areas has hindered the party's reach.
Sources in the TMC said the reshuffle would be done to ensure a strong and effective organisation ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.
It will, however, not affect the seven municipal corporation areas, including Kolkata, and the panchayat-level organisation of the party, said the leader.
TMC has 35 organisational districts, and the changes are likely to be made in 10 of them, he said.
As Banerjee was speaking about his vision for the party, a large crowd was waiting outside his residence to greet him on his birthday. With bouquets and posters, they sought a glimpse of the leader amid gaiety.
Banerjee greeted them and interacted with a few.