Start preparing for 2019 Lok Sabha poll: Mamata Banerjee

Barely a month after winning a landslide victory in the Assembly election, Mamata Banerjee urged her party leaders and workers to gear up for panchayat polls in 2018 and more importantly, Lok Sabha elections in 2019.

Addressing a political workshop of her party at the Netaji Indoor Stadium on Saturday, she said, “Trinamul means grassroots. We must spread our roots across the country. We should make people realise that the Trinamul Congress is the only pro-people party and therefore we must reach Delhi. If you work for the people, nobody will be able to do anything to Trinamul for 50 years.”

It is no secret that Ms Banerjee had ambitions of emerging as a major player in national politics in 2019. What came as a surprise was her decision to start preparing so much in advance. She asked party leaders to nurture their respective constituencies and stand by the people.

“You should plant trees and if there are potholes on the road then get them repaired. Politics is not about just carrying party flags. Stand by the people who have bestowed their faith in you,” Ms Banerjee said.

Ms Banerjee tore into the Opposition, asking them to keep their mouths shut because they had been rejected by the people.

“They clamour about democracy but they themselves are shaming democracy by carrying on a smear campaign against us. In a democracy, they must accept the verdict of the people with humility. Sometimes I wonder if these leaders are fit to be in politics,” she added.

She exhorted her own party leaders and workers to counter the slander of the Opposition by launching a positive campaign about the government’s development work. Ms Banerjee took a number of measures to strengthen party organisation. She announced a new “policy making body” comprising 21 leaders of the party. This body will meet every month on the first Saturday in the presence of Ms Banerjee.

“Similar policy-making bodies would be formed in every district, which will meet on the fourth Saturday of every month,” she said. She advised her MLAs to hold a meeting in their constituencies at least once a month.

Stressing on discipline, the Trinamul Congress supremo made it clear that those who worked hard during Assembly polls would be given more responsibility while those who had betrayed the party would be punished.

“No individual is bigger than the party. Trinamul Congress is the only party which does not tolerate lobbying. The party will not stand by those who have betrayed the party. Some elected representatives have developed the habit of not taking phone calls. This has alienated the people from them. You must remember that people have rejected those who have not stood by them,” she said.

The chief minister singled out some districts where infighting resulted in party’s defeat.

“We have lost at least between 15 to 20 seats in different districts like South Dinajpur, Malda and Bankura due to infighting or arrogance. The committee that I have formed to probe the sabotage angle will soon identify the traitors,” she said.