A faction of the Trinamool Congress has split from the party, marking the first such division in 28 years [1].
The internal revolt threatens the stability of the ruling party in West Bengal and signals a deepening rift between the party leadership and its legislative wing.
The rebellion centers on Abhishek Banerjee, the national general secretary of the TMC. A group of 58 dissident legislators has seized control of the party's legislature wing [1]. This group includes former MLA Gias Uddin Molla and expelled leader Ritabrata Banerjee.
Molla filed a police complaint against Banerjee on Sunday, accusing the party official of autocracy [2]. The complaint alleges that Banerjee is responsible for a recent poll debacle and has excluded key figures from decision-making processes [2].
Rebels within the party said that Banerjee has no role in the organization. The dissidents cited a lack of consultation, and disputes over the appointment of the leader of opposition, as primary drivers for the split [1], [3].
The conflict reflects a broader dissatisfaction with the current administrative style within the party. The rebels argue that the decision-making process has become overly centralized, leaving many legislators feeling marginalized.
While the party has faced internal friction in the past, the scale of this movement is unprecedented in nearly three decades. The dissident camp continues to challenge the authority of the national general secretary as they seek to redefine the party's internal structure [1], [3].
“Trinamool Congress splits for first time in 28 years”
This split represents a significant blow to the internal cohesion of the Trinamool Congress. By targeting Abhishek Banerjee rather than the party's top leadership, the rebels are challenging the emerging succession and administrative hierarchy. The loss of 58 legislators from the main fold could weaken the party's legislative grip and create a power vacuum that opposition parties may exploit in West Bengal.
