New Delhi, Dec 18 (NationPress) The Trinamool Congress general, Abhishek Banerjee, is advancing with reforms across the organization, extending from grassroots levels to the Parliament.

Last month, he initiated discussions—both face-to-face and online—to revitalize the party, particularly in areas where it has been relatively weak in northern West Bengal. This week, he adopted a firm approach, occasionally softening it, to instill discipline among a divided group of MPs.

His objective was evident before last year’s Lok Sabha elections. Abhishek aimed for a youthful and efficient team, although there were instances where his aunt and party chief Mamata Banerjee intervened.

With Assembly elections looming next year, he seems ready to take a more assertive stance.

Abhishek’s strategy is a response to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has transformed from holding just two seats to becoming the main opposition party in the state.

Despite encountering some challenges recently, the BJP has established a strong presence in certain northern and western regions.

Even after Trinamool’s significant victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where it secured 29 out of 42 seats—seven more than in 2019—the BJP led in several urban areas.

Following the Lok Sabha results, Abhishek hinted that the organization would take action against underperformers “within three months,” according to a party official.

Later that year, he proposed an organizational restructuring in a report to the party chairperson, Mamata. The aunt, who had previously acknowledged her increased involvement in governance as Chief Minister, seems to have approved of Abhishek’s ascent. His formal rise began in June 2021 when Mamata appointed him as the party's National General Secretary, granting him the second-most pivotal role in the hierarchy.

This year, he was promoted as the Trinamool leader in the Lok Sabha. In his initial months as General Secretary, Abhishek implemented a more corporate approach to party operations—introducing data-driven campaign strategies, digital outreach, and structured feedback from grassroots workers.

This shift marked a departure from Trinamool’s previous, more personality-driven political style.

His growing influence within the party is not merely due to family connections; it stems from strategic political maneuvers, organizational restructuring, and his expanding role in directing the party's electoral and policy strategies.

While Mamata—an assertive and disruptive politician—may not oppose some of his ideas, critics argue that loyalty is split between Camac Street (thought to be Abhishek’s base) and Harish Chatterjee Street (Mamata’s residence).

At one point, the tension escalated to the extent that Mamata had to dissolve the office-bearers' committee and establish a 20-member working committee to manage affairs amidst the growing divide. However, Abhishek soon returned, this time with renewed vigor.

Party insiders suggest that Mamata has recently permitted Abhishek to take the lead in organizational matters. Unlike his aunt, who sometimes allows personal ties and emotions to influence decisions, Abhishek prefers to adhere to political strategies and calculations.

Though primarily viewed as Mamata’s successor, Abhishek has kept a distance from issues directly related to the state cabinet or governance, at least in public.