Kolkata: Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee on Saturday replaced two more rebel MPs from key party posts — barely a week after a sweeping organisational overhaul — as she moved to consolidate control amid the continuing erosion of the party’s senior ranks.At a meeting at her Kalighat residence, Arnab Banerjee — a former South Kolkata district Trinamool Youth Congress president and current party spokesperson — was appointed state Trinamool Youth Congress president, replacing rebel MP Saayoni Ghosh.Kunal Ghosh was appointed North Kolkata organisational district president, replacing Sudip Bandyopadhyay.Veteran MP Saugata Roy was made parliamentary party adviser in the Lok Sabha. A day earlier, Mala Roy had been removed as Mahila Trinamool president and replaced by Kaliganj MLA Alifa Ahmed.The moves extend a restructuring that began last week when Mamata appointed Chandrima Bhattacharya as state unit president in place of Subrata Bakshi, and appointed senior MPs Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen as joint national secretaries — moves widely seen as curtailing Abhishek’s organisational authority.Sources said decisions against Bandyopadhyay and another party senior are expected in the coming days. Roy and Jyotipriyo Mullick have also been inducted into the National Working Committee.Saturday’s meeting was attended by Abhishek, O’Brien, Roy, Kalyan Banerjee, Kunal Ghosh and others. It followed days of public tension between Kalyan Banerjee and Abhishek, with the veteran MP having issued an ultimatum to Mamata to choose between him and her nephew.Sources said the two were reconciled at the meeting. Kalyan said earlier in the day: “He is like a son to me. It’s a father’s duty to forgive all the mistakes of his son. We have to fight together.”Abhishek, for his part, said: “Kalyan Banerjee is elder to me. He has the right to express his views. I won’t say anything against him.”
