New Delhi, March 31 -- Party sources say that Abhishek is relatively less rigid in his political stand as compared to Mamata Banerjee.

The selection of candidates by the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections is being seen as the official confirmation of the reins of the party now being in the hands of Abhishek Banerjee, the 36-year-old party general secretary and Member of Parliament from Diamond Harbour seat.

According to party leaders and Kolkata-based observers who closely follow the TMC, unlike in the last few Lok Sabha elections, where Abhishek acted more as an observer and an advisor to his aunt, party chief and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, this time he hand-picked the candidates and in some se...