The All India General Secretary of Trinamool Congress (TMC), Abhishek Banerjee is set to expand the ambit of his flagship free-of-cost doorstep medical healthcare initiative, Sebaashray Prakalpa, beyond his Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency in South 24 Parganas. Announcing the move, Abhishek, widely regarded as the party’s second-in-command, said that the programme will be launched in Nandigram, a constituency loaded with political symbolism, from January 15.
The choice of Nandigram is politically significant. The constituency is represented by Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee there in the 2021 Assembly elections by a narrow margin of just over 1,800 votes. Unsurprisingly, Abhishek’s decision has sparked considerable discussion within political circles.
The Sebaashray Prakalpa, which has been operational in Abhishek’s Diamond Harbour constituency for past few years, focuses on providing medical treatment, healthcare services and various forms of assistance to the general public through organised camps. According to party sources, the expansion of this model reflects the TMC leadership’s intent to replicate what is often described as the “Diamond Harbour Model” in other parts of the state.
“Beginning this expansion from Nandigram signals a calculated strategic move. The constituency gained heightened importance after Mamata’s defeat in 2021 and the subsequent rise of Suvendu Adhikari. While it is widely believed within the TMC that Mamata is unlikely to contest again from Nandigram, party leaders see the area as a crucial political battleground,” said Bishnupriya Dutta Gupta, a political science professor in south Kolkata’s Behala college.
Within the ruling party, there is a view that welfare-oriented outreach, particularly health and service camps, could serve as an effective means to exert political pressure on the Leader of the Opposition in his own constituency. The launch of Sebaashray in Nandigram is being seen as part of that broader approach.
The Diamond Harbour Model, introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Sebaashray Prakalpa received a strong response across West Bengal, prompting discussions within the TMC about scaling up the initiative. Party sources say that since then, requests and applications for similar camps have been coming in from various regions, including Nandigram. The upcoming launch is expected to fulfil a long-standing demand from local residents.
According to the initial plan, Sebaashray camps will be organised in both Nandigram-I and II blocks starting January 15 and will continue for seven to ten days. TMC sources indicate that Abhishek himself is likely to be present during the camps, although it is yet to be finalised whether he will attend on the opening day or address a public meeting at the conclusion of the programme.
“The initiative carries a clear message: access to government services and welfare programmes is not determined by electoral outcomes or political affiliations. By extending Sebaashray to Nandigram, the leadership aims to demonstrate that residents of constituencies represented by opposition leaders are not excluded from welfare initiatives,” said a senior TMC leader.
Abhishek Banerjee’s January schedule is already packed. He is set to begin a tour of North Bengal on January 3, following a visit to Baruipur on January 2.
As the TMC prepares to expand its welfare outreach across the state, Nandigram has emerged as the starting point of what could be a significant political and social initiative.
Also read: Abhishek to tour WB from Jan 2-22 for protecting voters’ rights
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