Since his release on bail after 18 months in prison, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Anubrata Mondal has made no political statements, choosing to keep a low profile. Having returned to his home in Bolpur on Tuesday, he has only met with his close followers, while keeping his distance from other senior party leaders.
However, his political presence has been reignited, as preparations are underway for his visit to the TMC office in Bolpur, expected on Wednesday afternoon. The party office, which was inaugurated by Mondal in 2018 during his tenure as Birbhum district president, is being decorated with numerous photos of him. Notably, images of other district core committee members, a committee formed by TMC leader Mamata Banerjee herself, have been taken down.
The walls of the TMC office, once adorned with photos of leaders like Abhijit Sinha, Chandranath Sinha, Sudipta Ghosh, and Ashish Bandopadhyay, are now being cleared. The office has returned to being dominated by images of Anubrata Mondal, with some photos featuring him alongside Mamata Banerjee and TMC’s national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee. Workers are seen busy cleaning and renovating the premises under the direct orders of Mondal’s followers, as part of a symbolic preparation for his potential resurgence in the district’s political landscape.
Anubrata’s return has fueled speculation about his ambitions to reclaim his influence in Birbhum politics. Questions have arisen over whether Mondal is seeking to re-establish his former power, especially as the TMC office in Bolpur has become a hub of activity in anticipation of his visit.
The sudden prominence of Mondal’s images has raised eyebrows, particularly because they had been removed after his imprisonment, replaced by photos of the district’s core committee members. Now, within 24 hours of his return, the office is once again reflecting his political dominance.
Further intrigue surrounds the distance between Mondal and some senior party members. On Tuesday, Chandranath Sinha and MLA Bikash Raychowdhury visited Mondal’s home but left after waiting for over an hour without meeting him. Mondal’s close aides hinted that a meeting with these leaders would take place later, though no specifics were provided.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held an administrative meeting just four kilometers away from Mondal’s residence on Tuesday but made no mention of him. This has led to speculation over the dynamics between Mondal and Mamata Banerjee, with questions lingering about whether they will meet in the coming days.
As Anubrata Mondal returns to his familiar political territory, all eyes are on his next moves and how his re-emergence will shape the political landscape in Birbhum.