Trinamul leaders in Siliguri subdivision directed party workers in different rungs of the party, especially in rural areas, to refrain from internal feuds and instead make an effort to secure rural and urban bodies that it had never won so far.

According to party insiders, on Saturday evening a meeting was held at Shivmandir Matigara block of the district where Papiya Ghosh, the newly appointed Trinamul president of Darjeeling (plains) asked party workers to work in a concerted manner to improve the performance in the district.

“Ever since I took charge, all I found is that workers and leaders in different positions are meeting me only to complain about their party colleagues. It is unfortunate that instead of coming up with concrete proposals on how Trinamul can perform better, they are busy fighting with each other. This has to stop,” Ghosh told party supporters.

Sources said Ghosh lamented that if such infighting went on, “it would not be possible even for Mamata Banejee to bring a change in Darjeeling district.”.

Although Trinamul has won Bengal’s seat of power thrice since 2011, the party’s performance in Darjeeling district has remained abysmal.

“The party could win only the Siliguri Assembly seat once (in 2011) and the Mirik municipality. In all other elections, right from the parliamentary to panchayat, the party has lost to the Left and Congress earlier and now to the BJP,” pointed an observer.

The new district president, sources said, has made it clear that there is specific instruction from the state leadership to take all necessary steps so that Trinamul can secure a win in Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad, both prestigious entities.

Trinamul has never won in both, an observer pointed out.

Gautam Deb, the former MLA of Dabgram-Fulbari who lost to BJP in the Assembly polls this year, spoke on similar lines.

“Our party may be in power in the state but in this district, we are the Opposition. This is something we have to change,” said Deb.