The Trinamool Congress currently holds a total of 41 Members of Parliament across both Houses of the Indian Parliament, including 28 in the Lok Sabha and 13 in the Rajya Sabha. A potential defection of MPs would mark a significant setback for party chief Mamata Banerjee, who is already navigating internal rebellion following the party’s electoral defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections.
Sources indicate that if a split occurs within the parliamentary grouping, it would substantially weaken the party’s standing as the second-largest opposition bloc in Parliament and diminish the collective strength of the opposition in legislative proceedings.
Meanwhile, the crisis within the party has already escalated in West Bengal, where the Trinamool legislature group is reported to be deeply divided. A breakaway faction comprising around 60 Members of the Legislative Assembly, led by MLA Ritabrata Banerjee, has declared itself the “real” Trinamool Congress. This group has appointed Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition and has reportedly received approval from the Assembly Speaker.
The rebel faction has openly challenged the leadership of Mamata Banerjee and opposed her chosen candidate for the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly. The internal dissent has been attributed to growing criticism within the party over corruption allegations and the handling of the RG Kar rape and murder case.
Further political strain has been reported following a meeting convened by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, which several leaders attended, signalling widening divisions within the party structure.
Party insiders suggest that additional splits in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha may occur in the coming days, potentially strengthening the position of the breakaway faction. Amid these developments, Mamata Banerjee is reportedly focusing on efforts to retain the party’s official name and symbol, a challenge that observers believe may prove difficult, drawing parallels with past party split precedents.
The rapid fragmentation of organisational structures, the emergence of rival leadership claims, and the resignation of key figure Firhad Hakim have collectively placed the Trinamool Congress under severe political strain, marking a critical phase in its internal power struggle.
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