KOLKATA: The political crisis within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has intensified dramatically, with fresh signs of rebellion emerging against party supremo and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The latest developments have raised serious questions about her grip over the party she founded nearly three decades ago, as a large section of legislators appears increasingly unwilling to follow the central leadership.
According to reports, Mamata Banerjee recently called a crucial meeting of TMC legislators amid growing internal turmoil. However, the turnout was far below expectations, exposing deep cracks within the organization. While the party currently has 80 MLAs in the West Bengal Assembly, only 8 MLA attended the leadership’s outreach efforts, highlighting the scale of dissatisfaction among lawmakers. Earlier this week, another meeting convened by the TMC leadership had to be postponed after most legislators skipped the gathering.
The crisis erupted after a group of rebel legislators rallied behind expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee and challenged the authority of the existing party leadership. The rebellion gained momentum when West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose recognized a bloc of 58 rebel MLAs as the principal opposition group in the Assembly. The recognition represented a major political setback for Mamata Banerjee and her loyalists.
Reports suggest that the rebel camp has managed to gather support from well over the two-thirds threshold required under anti-defection provisions, strengthening its legal and political position. With TMC holding 80 seats in the Assembly, the benchmark for protection from disqualification stands at 54 legislators. The rebels claim they comfortably crossed that number.
Adding to Mamata Banerjee’s troubles, divisions have also emerged within the rebel camp over the future structure of the party. During a recent meeting attended by only a section of dissident MLAs, several lawmakers reportedly objected to proposals that would reduce Mamata Banerjee’s role to that of a “chief adviser.” Many insisted that despite their differences with the current leadership structure, Mamata should continue to hold the top position in the organization.
The turmoil has forced the TMC leadership to take extraordinary measures. In a move that underscored the seriousness of the crisis, the party dissolved all committees and frontal organizations across the state. The decision effectively wiped out existing organizational posts and opened the door for a complete restructuring of the party apparatus. Political observers view the move as an attempt to regain control and prevent further fragmentation.
Meanwhile, the confrontation has also moved into the legal arena. The TMC leadership is preparing to challenge the recognition of Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition in the Calcutta High Court. Party leaders argue that an expelled legislator should not be entitled to occupy such a position. However, the Assembly Speaker has defended his decision, maintaining that procedural and legal requirements were followed before granting recognition to the rebel faction.
The rebellion comes at a particularly difficult time for Mamata Banerjee. The TMC suffered a major electoral setback in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, ending its long tenure in power and reducing its representation in the Assembly to just 80 seats. The electoral defeat has intensified internal debates over leadership, strategy and the future direction of the party.
Political analysts believe the current crisis represents one of the most significant challenges in TMC’s history. What began as dissatisfaction among a section of legislators has evolved into an organized challenge to the party’s command structure. The uncertainty surrounding senior leaders, organizational posts and legislative leadership has further complicated the situation.
For Mamata Banerjee, the coming weeks may prove decisive. If the rebel camp continues to attract support, the TMC could face a prolonged period of instability. Conversely, if the leadership succeeds in rebuilding unity through organizational restructuring and political negotiations, the party may still be able to prevent a formal split. As of now, however, the numbers suggest that the challenge confronting the TMC leadership is far from over, and the battle for control of one of India’s most influential regional parties has entered a critical phase.
