Don’t smoke in public: TMC to its MPs

In an apparent reference to some Trinamool Congress MPs smoking publicly in Parliament premises, the TMC has asked them to conduct themselves in a manner so as not to lower the dignity of their party.

The party has also directed its MPs not to meet union ministers or any leader without keeping the leadership in the loop. Emerging from a meeting, TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday said that he informed the MPs about the party guidelines. “It is not possible for me to disclose everything that transpired in the meeting, but I told them to follow the party guidelines,” Banerjee said.

Inside sources also said that party supremo and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was not happy with the way some of its MPs were seen publicly smoking inside Parliament, “causing it a cause of great embarrassment.” The BJP had strongly taken up the issue of a senior TMC MP smoking in public recently.

Abhishek, who is also the nephew of the Chief Minister, is known to have directed the MPs not to seek any appointment with any minister or meet any leader outside the TMC without a leave from the leadership.

The immediate reference of his “warning” to the party MPs is a recent appointment that Hooghly MP Rachana Banerjee sought with the Railways Minister, demanding a train between Howrah and Ajmer Sharief. The party was also not happy with a senior MP attending the birthday party of NCP leader Sharad Pawar --- where he met a top businessman --- and another woman MP attending the wedding of a top industrialist’s daughter.

“They have been asked to seek the permission of the party leadership --- i.e., the leader or deputy leader of the respective House or the general secretary --- before making such moves” the leader was quoted as telling his MPs. “Even if the MPs are to meet any INDIA leaders, then also they must seek permission from the leadership,” sources said.