Trinamool Congress founder Mamata Banerjee has launched a personal outreach to rebel and wavering legislators, and summoned a meeting at her Kalighat residence in Kolkata today, in an effort to halt further defections and hold together a party confronting the first split in its 28-year history.
Hit by an implosion after the BJP ended her 15-year-rule in Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, 71, has over the past two days telephoned several MLAs from Howrah, Murshidabad and North Dinajpur, party sources told news agency PTI.
The row was triggered by allegations that signatures of several MLAs were “forged” on a letter proposing her pick as Leader of Opposition.
The meeting is widely seen as a test of Banerjee's continuing hold over legislators who have crossed over, with attendance figures the key indicator.
Split may go beyond assembly, with more than 100 municipal councillors having resigned from the party, along with leaders including former transport minister Snehasish Chakraborty.
The outreach is not confined to the assembly either, with the leadership fearing the revolt could spread to its parliamentary ranks.
At least two trusted MPs — one each from the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha — have been tasked with contacting parliamentary colleagues and dissuading them from joining the "new Trinamool" the rebels say they are building.
