A rift has reportedly emerged between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew and Trinamool Congress's General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee over the transfer of the former principal of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College, Dr Sandip Ghosh, following protests over the trainee doctor's brutal rape and murder in the hospital.
Abhishek Banerjee has notably distanced himself from the controversy, opting not to participate in his aunt's rallies and padyatras (foot marches) demanding swift action from the CBI, which is handling the case.
Sources close to Abhishek Banerjee said the party's general secretary was upset over the immediate suspension of Dr Ghosh and his subsequent plum posting at Calcutta National Medical College.
Abhishek Banerjee believes that Mamata Banerjee, known for her clean image, did not take strong action against alleged corrupt practices at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, sources said.
A doctors' clique close to the Chief Minister, is perceived to support Dr Ghosh and this group is under social media scrutiny for alleged corruption, sources said, adding that Abhishek Banerjee felt that a ruthless approach was necessary to maintain the party's image.
Following an attack on the hospital on August 14 by miscreants, Abhishek Banerjee took swift action by calling the Police Commissioner, underscoring the urgency, unlike her aunt's relatively measured response.
On the other hand, Mamata Banerjee has blamed the factional feud on Santanu Sen, a former Rajya Sabha MP, who is close to Abhishek Banerjee, whom she removed from the NRS Hospital's patients' committee and the party's spokesperson position, according to sources.
She has questioned her nephew's lack of active involvement in the crisis and suggested that he should participate in rallies and demonstrate responsibility, they said.
As the Supreme Court hearing on the trainee doctor's rape-murder case continues, Mamata Banerjee continues to handle media relations directly, sidelining Abhishek Banerjee's media team, sources said.
Despite the differences, the Trinamool Congress chief remains the central figure in managing the crisis. Meanwhile, Abhishek Banerjee is set to leave for New York for eye surgery in mid-September, adding another layer of complexity to the unfolding political drama.
The differences between Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee are reminiscent of past conflicts within the CPI-M regime.
In that era, disagreements between leaders like Jyoti Basu and Promod Dasgupta were famously described as conflicts between the state government's Writers' Building headquarters and the party's Alimuddin Street headquarters. Today, these internal rifts are replaying between the government headquarters at Nabanna and Abhishek's office at Camac Street.
ABOUT KOLKATA RAPE-MURDER CASE
The trainee doctor, who was a second-year postgraduate student, was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, triggering nationwide protests.
Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer with Kolkata Police, was arrested in connection with the case, which is now being handled by the CBI.
Demonstrations have been held by people, including resident doctors, demanding action against culprits in the case and measures to improve the safety of doctors at their workplaces.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court came down heavily on the West Bengal government over the lapses in the trainee doctor's rape-murder case, including the delay in filing an FIR.
Source: India Today