Trinamool Congress Split Deepens as Rebel Faction Seizes Opposition Leadership in Bengal Assembly

The rapid disintegration of the party, less than a month after its defeat in the state election, became even more apparent shortly afterward when Firhad Hakim, a close associate of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, resigned from the position of Kolkata Mayor.

Earlier in the day, the Trinamool Congress dissolved all its committees and affiliated organizations with immediate effect, stating that the party needed a period of introspection following its electoral setback.

Underscoring the emergence of a new power structure, Ritabrata Banerjee, who was expelled from the Trinamool Congress earlier this week, assigned a new role to Mamata Banerjee. He announced that the rebel camp would request her to serve as the chief adviser to the opposition front. The move drew parallels with the political developments in Maharashtra, where leaders of the faction led by Ajit Pawar repeatedly expressed loyalty to Sharad Pawar following the split in the Nationalist Congress Party.

The newly recognized Leader of the Opposition also clarified the position of Abhishek Banerjee within the evolving political landscape.

“Abhishek Banerjee has no connection to the formation of the 18th Assembly of West Bengal,” Ritabrata Banerjee stated.

Earlier, he had arrived at the state assembly claiming the support of 59 of the party’s 80 Members of the Legislative Assembly. The letter submitted by his camp asserted that it represented the “real” Trinamool Congress and, notably, identified Mamata Banerjee as the leader of the faction.

The developments closely resemble the political upheavals witnessed in Maharashtra, beginning with the split in Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena and later extending to the division within Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party.

The Trinamool Congress has alleged that the rebellion has been orchestrated by the Bharatiya Janata Party. “Everyone knows what is happening,” Trinamool leader Manav Jaiswal said while responding to the unfolding crisis.

The immediate trigger for the confrontation was the appointment of the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly. Mamata Banerjee had nominated veteran party leader Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay for the post.

However, Ritabrata Banerjee and his close associate Sandipan Saha challenged the decision, alleging that the letter supporting Chattopadhyay’s appointment contained forged signatures. The allegation is currently under investigation by the state’s Criminal Investigation Department.

Signs of internal unrest had emerged soon after the party’s election defeat. A growing number of leaders began openly criticizing the organization over several issues, including allegations of corruption and its handling of the RG Kar rape-murder case. Several of those dissenting leaders had also attended a meeting convened by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikary last week.

The recognition of Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition, the resignation of a senior party loyalist from a key civic position, and the dissolution of organizational structures mark a decisive turning point in the Trinamool Congress crisis. With competing claims over the party’s legitimacy and an ongoing investigation into allegations of forged signatures, West Bengal’s political landscape has entered one of its most turbulent phases in recent years.