NEW DELHI: The Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday expelled her former aide and ex-Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim, along with seven other rebel leaders, a day after the dissident camp “ousted” the former West Bengal chief minister as the party’s chairperson.The expelled leaders include Javed Ahmed Khan, Arup Roy, Rathin Ghosh, Biplab Mitra, Sabina Yasmin, Aroop Biswas and Snehasis Chakraborty.The move came hours after the Mamata Banerjee-led faction issued show-cause notices to the leaders, accusing them of “deliberately engaging in anti-party activities.”On Monday, the rebel camp led by leader of the opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, announced a new leadership structure for the TMC, naming veteran MLA Arup Roy as its chairperson in place of Mamata Banerjee.The dissidents also unveiled a 30-member National Working Committee (NWC), while maintaining that they wanted the former West Bengal chief minister to serve as the party’s mentor.Ritabrata Banerjee later said Arup Roy had been unanimously elected as the Trinamool’s new chairperson. Former minister Aroop Biswas and MLA Firhad Hakim were appointed vice-chairpersons.“A special session of the All India Trinamool Congress was organised here today. During this session, the All India Trinamool Congress Committee and the NWC were constituted through a unanimous election of delegates. Arup Roy has been elected as the Chairperson of the All India Trinamool Congress,” Ritabrata Banerjee told reporters.The 30-member committee includes Firhad Hakim, Arup Biswas, Rathin Ghosh, Sabina Yasmin, Javed Khan, Sandipan Saha and others.Ritabrata Banerjee further said district presidents and district committees would also be constituted in the coming days.“We have repeatedly stated our stance regarding Mamata Banerjee’s role within the TMC. We want ‘Didi’ to assume the responsibility of a mentor and guide us,” he added.Later, while speaking to ANI on the National Working Committee meeting chaired by Mamata Banerjee, the West Bengal LoP questioned the legitimacy of decisions taken by the rival group.(with ANI inputs)
