Agencies | Kolkota:
The fallout from the West Bengal Assembly elections continues to deepen for Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC), with the party facing a series of setbacks that have intensified concerns about its political future.
In its latest and arguably most significant challenge, at least 20 dissident TMC MPs on Monday reportedly submitted a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking permission to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The development came just hours after Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Shekhar Ray resigned from the party, signalling growing unrest within its ranks.
The latest rebellion comes against the backdrop of an escalating internal crisis that has steadily weakened Mamata Banerjee’s authority within the organisation. With a majority of the party’s MLAs already in open dissent, the unrest has now spread to Parliament, posing one of the most serious challenges to the TMC leadership in recent years.
Cracks Emerge After Electoral Defeat
The internal turmoil began to surface following the BJP’s sweeping victory in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. The defeat was particularly significant for Mamata Banerjee, who lost her Bhabanipur constituency to former aide-turned-political rival Suvendu Adhikari, who subsequently became Chief Minister.
Soon after the election results, several senior leaders, including Manoj Tiwary, Arunava Sen, Papiya Ghosh and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, publicly voiced concerns over the party’s functioning and criticised what they described as the growing influence of TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
The dissenting leaders alleged corruption within the organisation and accused the leadership of being disconnected from public sentiment and governance concerns.
Resignations and Growing Dissent
What began as isolated criticism gradually evolved into a broader rebellion. Former MP Santanu Sen resigned as the party’s spokesperson, while Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar stepped down from all organisational posts. More than 100 municipal councillors also resigned, reflecting widening discontent at various levels of the party.
The extent of the crisis became evident on May 30 when 60 of the TMC’s 80 MLAs reportedly skipped a meeting convened by Mamata Banerjee at her Kalighat residence. The absence of such a large number of legislators fuelled speculation about a widening rift within the party.
The situation worsened on June 2 when MLAs Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha were expelled over alleged anti-party activities. The two legislators had approached the Assembly Speaker, alleging that signatures of several MLAs had been used without consent on a letter backing the party’s preferred candidate for Leader of the Opposition.
Assembly Revolt Gains Momentum
A major setback for the TMC leadership came when 58 of its 80 MLAs reportedly submitted a letter supporting Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition. The Assembly Speaker subsequently recognised him in the role, significantly weakening the influence of Mamata Banerjee’s faction within the legislature.
Since assuming the position, Ritabrata Banerjee has emerged as a vocal critic of the party leadership, accusing Abhishek Banerjee of corruption, dynastic politics and contributing to the party’s electoral defeat.
Political observers have compared the unfolding developments to the splits witnessed in parties such as the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), where internal revolts dramatically altered the political landscape.
Rebellion Reaches Parliament
The crisis has now extended beyond the Assembly, with a group of rebel MPs emerging as a parallel power centre within the party. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar has become one of the prominent faces of the parliamentary revolt, claiming that 20 MPs have formally sought to align with the NDA.
Notably, while Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee and other senior leaders attended an INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi, rebel MPs reportedly gathered separately at the residence of Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, further underscoring the growing divide.
In a matter of weeks, the TMC has gone from dealing with electoral defeat to confronting an unprecedented internal rebellion. The developments have sparked intense debate over the future direction of the party and the ability of its leadership to maintain organisational unity.
Despite the turmoil, some rebel legislators continue to acknowledge Mamata Banerjee as the party’s principal leader, suggesting that she retains a degree of personal support within the organisation. Whether that support will be enough to restore cohesion and reassert control over the party remains an open question.
