Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee ordered the formation of a disciplinary committee of the Trinamul Congress legislature party, headed by parliamentary affairs minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, following recent instances of its MLAs making statements that were not in tune with the party line and caused embarrassment to the ruling dispensation.
Besides Chattopadhyay, the five-member committee comprises ministers Firhad Hakim, Aroop Biswas, Chandrima Bhattacharya and Birbaha Hansda.
The panel, a separate entity from the party’s disciplinary committee, is the first of its kind for the Trinamul legislature party. “It was chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s decision. There have been some untoward remarks from some members of the treasury benches in the recent past, which have caused discomfort to the party and have not gone down well with her. This committee will help minimise such instances,” said a senior in the Trinamul legislature party.
“There are several appropriate platforms within to flag concerns or seek resolutions to issues. Bringing them up in public or in the House, without warning, is uncalled for,” he added. Sources said Mamata had asked Chattopadhyay and other senior cabinet colleagues to ensure that the process of board formation in the three tiers of the panchayat system should happen smoothly, without Trinamul’s internal differences inconveniencing the party or hindering the process.
Seniors on the treasury benches said the Assembly, currently in session, could be adjourned for the time being later this week.