TMC Begins Bijoya Sammilanis for Citizen Connect Amid Jyotipriya Mallick & Mahua Moitra Controversy

It’s time for Bijoya Sammilani – post Durga pujo gatherings – politics in West Bengal.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) plans to reach out to the masses through Bijoya Sammilanis from October 31 to November 10. The party top brass has directed all blocks in all districts to start the gatherings. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, however, say this won’t help the TMC, as they too are holding Bijoya Sammilanis in the state.

Sources from the party said: “In Bijoya Sammilani, TMC leaders will meet people at important public places. They have been instructed to meet and interact with people on one-on-one basis.”

TMC leaders have been told to reach out to people in a personal way through these gatherings. From homemakers to important local persons, all will be invited.

“Mingling with the common people is the motto,” said a senior leader of TMC. Leaders have been advised to attend all Bijoya Sammilanis in their areas.

The Opposition always criticises the TMC, saying there is a difference between the old and new guard, party insiders told News18. They said that this time, special instructions have been given so that old-timers and workers who have been with the TMC in bad days are felicitated by the juniors.

The felicitation of key leaders and old guards of the TMC in each ward comes at a time when the party is mired in controversy. While veteran leader and minister Jyotipriya Mallick has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an alleged ration scam, Mahua Moitra case is facing the ethics committee over cash-for-query allegations. The TMC has termed the action against Mallick political vendetta and asked their leaders to reach out to people with their explanations.

The party is seeking support for its protest against the Centre over the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) dues, which will continue from November 1, as directed by party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. The TMC plans to take this movement to Delhi again seeking money for the state.

By the end of November, Banerjee is likely to go on the next phase of his Nabojowar Yatra, as part of which he travelled to different villages and stayed there.

The yatra, this time, will focus on the Lok Sabha polls and their main agenda will be how common man’s money is stuck because of the Centre.