With her eyes set on the Prime Ministerial chair Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is thinking of a “bigger role” for her nephew and Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, sources close to Kalighat (the official residence of the TMC supremo) say.

Insiders do not rule out the possibility of the Diamond Harbour MP getting the Deputy Chief Minister’s post, post November. In that case Abdul Khaliq Molla the MLA from Metiabruz in south-western Kolkata will be asked to leave his seat for the junior Banerjee. In return Molla will be sent to Parliament from Diamond Harbour.

All this, in consideration of the fact that 2024 general elections could open new vistas of possibilities not only for the INDIA alliance but also for some of its powerful constituents like Mamata Banerjee, insiders say.

Though the Chief Minister repeatedly said that she was an ordinary member of the Alliance, TMC mouthpiece Jago Bangla has often projected her as the PM candidate in case an opportunity arises.

Banerjee’s calculation is simple. “If the TMC manages to get more than 30 seats and if a situation props up for her become the Prime Minister with the INDIA alliance needing her support to form an anti-BJP government --- the chances of which are not low by any means --- then it will be easier for her to elevate Abhishek as the Chief Minister without any serious challenge from any other sitting and senior ministers,” a former IAS officer who has been very close to the Chief Minister said.