Draft constitution proposes national working president as Mamata’s 2nd in-charge

Almost two months after the Trinamool Congress announced that it would amend its constitution, the party is planning to introduce the post of national executive president to assist chairperson Mamata Banerjee.

The national executive president will perform Mamata’s roles in her absence and will also be a member of the party’s advisory committee in his capacity. Mamata’s nephew and party’s general secretary Abhishek Banerjee is believed to be the normal choice for the post.

However, the party leaders think that the inheritance of power within the party will be decided in a constitutional manner. If Abhishek is elected the national executive president by amending the constitution, his authority within the party will be further established.

The party will also form a national council at the grassroots level, which will have two types of representatives – elected and nominated. This council will be the highest policy-making committee of the party. The members of the council will elect a national executive president for a five-year term.

Apart from this, the Trinamool Congress will also appoint six national general secretaries who will oversee the organisation and activities of the team on a daily basis.

Trinamool membership and the fees paid to the members are also being amended.

There will be two types of membership – primary and active. If a member can get 10 more people to join the party, then he will be considered as active member. Active members will have the right to vote. They will also be able to open party offices.

Under the current constitution, all primary members have the right to vote. However, this time it is going to change.

The cost of annual membership is also increasing. The draft proposal calls for a 20-fold increase i.e. from Rs 5 per year to Rs 100 per year. Although the final decision will be taken by the party leadership, digital membership has also been included in the draft.

According to the leaders, the party has grown exponentially since coming to power in the state in 2011 and therefore, needs a specific structure. It is also important to reduce the burden of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s party work.

The leaders feel that the restructuring of the party is even more urgent as it is moving beyond Bengal and venturing in national politics.

According to the party leaders, this is the first internal democracy of Trinamool Congress since its formation in 1998 where the second most powerful position from the grassroots level will be elected. The draft constitution has not yet given any term to the highest office of the party, making Mamata Banerjee the party chairperson for life.

Political strategist Prashant Kishore’s organisation IPAC is working on the amendment of Trinamool constitution. Mamata convened a meeting of the Trinamool Working Committee in November last year. After the meeting, the party leaders announced that a proposal has been made to amend the party’s constitution. Kishore was also present in the meeting.

According to party sources, the necessary amendments to the constitution are the brainchild of Kishore.