A fresh political battle has erupted within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) as party founder and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee moved to reassert her leadership after rebel leaders announced a parallel organizational structure.
The development comes amid an ongoing power struggle that has intensified since the TMC’s defeat in the recent West Bengal Assembly elections.
According to reports, a rebel faction of the party held a special meeting in Kolkata and declared senior MLA Arup Roy as the new chairperson, effectively attempting to replace Mamata Banerjee from the party’s top position.
Rebel Camp Announces New Leadership Structure
The special session, reportedly led by Ritabrata Banerjee, lasted around 30 minutes and included rebel MLAs, former councillors, and party functionaries.
Sources from the rebel camp claimed that nearly 60 of TMC’s 80 MLAs either attended or endorsed the meeting. They also stated that dozens of former municipal councillors and district representatives participated in the gathering.
The rebel faction unveiled what it described as a new national leadership structure for the party, deepening the ongoing internal conflict.
Team Mamata Responds With Election Commission Submission
In response, Team Mamata submitted an updated list of office bearers and national working committee members to the Election Commission.
The document reaffirmed that Mamata Banerjee remains the official chairperson of the All India Trinamool Congress.
According to the submission:
- Mamata Banerjee remains Chairperson.
- Subrata Bakshi continues as Vice-President.
- Abhishek Banerjee remains National General Secretary.
- Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen continue as Joint Secretaries.
- Subhasish Chakraborty remains Treasurer.
The submission is seen as a strategic move to establish the official party structure before any institutional challenge emerges.
Disciplinary Action Against Senior Leaders
The party’s disciplinary committee has reportedly issued show-cause notices to several senior leaders accused of engaging in anti-party activities.
Among those named are:
- Firhad Hakim
- Aroop Biswas
- Arup Roy
- Javed Khan
- Rathin Ghosh
- Biplab Mitra
- Snehasis Chakraborty
- Sabina Yasmin
The notices indicate that the party leadership is taking a tougher stance against dissent.
How the TMC Crisis Escalated
The crisis began earlier this month when Assembly Speaker Rathindra Nath Bose recognized 58 rebel TMC legislators as the principal opposition group in the Assembly.
Soon afterward, another faction reportedly emerged among TMC Members of Parliament, adding to concerns over the party’s unity.
Several prominent leaders, including Mahua Moitra, Kalyan Banerjee, and Derek O’Brien, have remained aligned with Mamata Banerjee during the turmoil.
What Happens Next?
The battle for control of the Trinamool Congress is likely to intensify in the coming weeks.
With both camps claiming legitimacy, the Election Commission’s response and the loyalty of party legislators could play a crucial role in determining the future direction of one of India’s most influential regional parties.
Political observers believe the outcome of this leadership dispute may significantly shape the opposition landscape in West Bengal and influence national political equations ahead of future elections.
