National general secretary of All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) Abhishek Banerjee landed in Tripura in a two-day visit on Sunday.
This is Banerjee’s first Tripura visit after the Civic Body Polls in the State in which AITC managed to win in one seat only even as it had improved it vote share. With a Steering Committee of the Party is running the show, all eyes are focused on Banerjee as to whether he would come out with a State Committee of the party. So far, it remains uncertain as to who would lead the Party in State.
Meanwhile, after arriving in Agartala, Banerjee offered puja at famous Chaturdash Devata Temple at Khayerpur near Agartala.
Abhishek Banerjee was scheduled to hold an interactive programme with a non-political tribal group at Hathai Kotor Eco Park (Barmura) under Teliamura sub-division. However, Tripura Police denied TMC permission.
TMC uploaded a letter cancelling Banerjee’s programme. The letter read, “It is to inform you that, on 02.01.2022 LAM PHIYOKNAI TRUST have already taken permission from the SDFO, Teliamura to organise a programme in front of HATHAI KOTOR Cafeteria (Baram Ecological Park) where Shri Mevar Kumar Jamatia will attend in the same programme and even there is no prior permission from the appropriate authority to organize a programme at Barmura Ecological Park by Shri Abhishek Banerjee, Hon’ble MP of Lok Sabha on 02.01.2022,”
This immediately drew ire from TMC leaders and an official release of AITC quoted Banerjee as saying, “AITC won’t be conceding any space for BJP in Tripura. Within 3 months, we have become the principal opposition in the state after securing over 23% vote share in the urban body’s civic polls last month.”
Banerjee also went to Teliamura and inaugurated a Party office there even as the Party has no Party office in Agartala – the Party is being run from a camp office at residence of Subal Bhowmik.
Abhishek Banerjee was scheduled to hold a meeting with the Party leaders – however, what transpired in the meeting remained unknown.