Calcutta, Nov. 7: Dola Sen was today removed as the state president of Trinamul labour arm INTTUC in the aftermath of complaints of extortion and factionalism against a section of union leaders.

According to Trinamul sources, national INTTUC president and panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee will head the state unit too. Dola will remain a member of the union's core committee.

'In the past few months, several INTTUC leaders have been accused of extorting factory owners and officials in Durgapur and Asansol. Many union members were also accused of forcing company managements to hire workers loyal to them. Factional rivalry has intensified. Dola could not solve the problems,' a Trinamul trade union leader said.

Repeated calls to Dola's cellphone went unanswered.

Trinamul sources said the leadership was unhappy with Dola for failing to win the Asansol Lok Sabha seat although the area was a party stronghold. The BJP, which is fast emerging as the principal Opposition in the state, won the seat.

Sources said Mukherjee was told to look after the state INTTUC unit by Mamata Banerjee because of his vast experience as a trade union leader.

A senior Trinamul general secretary said Mamata had made it clear that factionalism in the labour wing would not be tolerated. 'There will be only one Trinamul-led trade union in each factory. Despite repeated warnings, this rule is not being followed,' he said.

Dola had been made the INTTUC state president against the wishes of veteran labour leader Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, who has been sidelined in the organisation. Chattopadhyay, however, controls INTTUC-backed unions at several factories.

Chattopadhyay, who was heckled allegedly by Dola loyalists on the College Street campus of Calcutta University in November last year, has often spoken against multiple Trinamul unions in one factory. He had also complained to Mamata that Dola's supporters were sullying the party's image.