West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew, Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, are reportedly facing significant differences over the handling of the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, an incident that has sparked widespread protests. The controversy has highlighted an emerging rift within the Trinamool Congress, with Abhishek Banerjee expressing dissatisfaction over the party's response to the crisis.
The tension reportedly centers around the transfer of Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College, who was moved to a new position at Calcutta National Medical College following the incident. Abhishek Banerjee is said to be particularly upset that Dr. Ghosh, who was suspended amid allegations of corruption, received a "plum posting" instead of facing harsher consequences. According to sources close to Abhishek, he believes that the party, and particularly Mamata Banerjee, should have taken more decisive action to address the alleged corrupt practices at the hospital, which have come under scrutiny on social media.
Mamata Banerjee, however, has questioned her nephew's approach to the crisis, noting his absence from rallies and padayatra demanding justice for the victim. She has reportedly suggested that Abhishek should have been more actively involved in managing the situation, demonstrating leadership during a critical time for the party.
The disagreement has also led to contrasting responses to the crisis. Abhishek Banerjee, acting swiftly after the hospital was attacked by miscreants on August 14, personally contacted the Police Commissioner to underscore the urgency of the situation. In contrast, Mamata Banerjee's response has been described as more measured, which has added to the perceived divide between the two leaders.
Further complicating matters, Mamata Banerjee has attributed the internal conflict to factionalism within the party, particularly blaming Santanu Sen, a former Rajya Sabha MP close to Abhishek. Sen was recently removed from his positions at NRS Hospital's patients' committee and as the party's spokesperson, a move that reflects the ongoing power struggle within the party.
Amidst these internal tensions, Mamata Banerjee has continued to handle media relations directly, sidelining Abhishek's media team as the Supreme Court hearing on the trainee doctor's case progresses. The Court has been critical of the West Bengal government, particularly over delays in filing the FIR, further intensifying the scrutiny on the administration's handling of the case.
As the crisis unfolds, Abhishek Banerjee is set to leave for New York in mid-September for eye surgery, which may add another layer of complexity to the situation. The differences between Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee have drawn comparisons to past conflicts within the CPI-M regime, where similar rifts existed between the state government's headquarters at Writers' Building and the party's headquarters at Alimuddin Street. Today, these tensions are mirrored between the government headquarters at Nabanna and Abhishek's office at Camac Street.
The tragic death of the trainee doctor, who was a second-year postgraduate student, has triggered nationwide protests, with demonstrators, including resident doctors, demanding justice and better safety measures for medical professionals. The case, now under the purview of the CBI, has seen the arrest of Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer with Kolkata Police, in connection with the crime. The situation continues to be a significant source of tension within the Trinamool Congress, as the party navigates the fallout from this deeply troubling incident.
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