Sushmita Dev, a member of Parliament for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), defended the party amid reports of an internal rebellion this week.
The statement comes as the party struggles to maintain unity following a crushing electoral defeat in May 2026 [2]. The stability of the TMC is critical for the political landscape of West Bengal, as internal dissent threatens the leadership's ability to govern and reorganize.
Dev addressed concerns regarding growing dissent and a reported rebellion by a section of TMC members of the legislative assembly. Speaking with NDTV, she said the current instability is a transition rather than a failure. "It's a period of churning, not a collapse," Dev said.
This internal friction has manifested in a power struggle within the party's legislature wing. Reports indicate that 58 MLAs seized control of that wing [1]. The move is viewed as an attempt to dilute the authority of party leader Mamata Banerjee.
Dev said she is confident that Banerjee possesses the ability to turn the situation around. The tension persists as the party attempts to reconcile the demands of the dissidents with the central leadership's vision for the future.
Banerjee has taken a firm stance on those threatening to depart the organization. "Those who want to leave can leave, the rest of us will rebuild TMC," Banerjee said.
“"It's a period of churning, not a collapse."”
The clash between the TMC leadership and the 58 dissenting MLAs suggests a systemic crisis of authority following the May 2026 electoral losses. While Dev frames the unrest as 'churning,' the seizure of the legislature wing indicates a formal challenge to Mamata Banerjee's control, potentially leading to a significant party split or a forced restructuring of the party's internal hierarchy.
