ABHISHEK BANERJEE ASSERTS AUTHORITY IN TMC'S LS PICKS

Party sources say that Abhishek is relatively less rigid in his political stand as compared to Mamata Baneriee.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

The selection of candidates by the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections is being seen as the official confirmation of the reins of the party now being in the hands of Abhishek Banerjee, the 36-year-old party general secretary and Member of Parliament from Diamond Harbour seat.

According to party leaders and Kolkata-based observers who closely follow the TMC, unlike in the last few Lok Sabha elections, where Abhishek acted more as an observer and an advisor to his aunt, party chief and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, this time he hand-picked the candidates and in some seats his decision over-rode the decision of other leaders.

The 27-year-old Debangshu Bhattacharya, state spokesperson of TMC and general secretary of Trinamool Youth Congress, who also heads the social media team of the party, will be contesting from Tamluk. He is considered to be a close associate of Abhishek and despite reservations from some quarters from within the party on the ground that he is too young and inexperienced to be given a Lok Sabha ticket, Abhishek ensured that he was given the chance. Party leaders had suggested that his massive following on social media should not be seen as a criterion to give him a Lok Sabha ticket.