A rebel faction of the Trinamool Congress led by Ritabrata Banerjee has gained the support of 58 MLAs [1].
This internal collapse threatens the stability of the ruling party in West Bengal and challenges the authority of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The scale of the defection suggests a significant shift in the legislative balance of power in the state.
The crisis follows the expulsion of Ritabrata Banerjee from the party. The rebel group now claims to be the "real TMC," a move that has created a deep divide within the organization. The Speaker has officially recognized Banerjee as the Leader of Opposition [1, 2].
Further instability hit the city administration as Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim announced his resignation [4]. Hakim has long been considered a loyalist to Mamata Banerjee, making his departure a critical blow to the party's municipal control.
Reports indicate that the crisis is intensifying as some Mamata Banerjee loyalists have reportedly attended a review meeting led by the BJP [3]. This suggests that the internal revolt may be coinciding with external political pressures from the opposition.
The rebel faction's claim to the party identity and the Speaker's recognition of Banerjee create a complex legal and political standoff. The party now faces a fragmented leadership structure across both the state assembly, and the Kolkata municipal corporation.
“A rebel faction of the Trinamool Congress led by Ritabrata Banerjee has gained the support of 58 MLAs.”
The recognition of a rebel leader as the official Leader of the Opposition while the party remains in power creates a constitutional anomaly. If 58 MLAs have shifted their allegiance, the government's majority is severely compromised, potentially leading to a floor test or a change in administration if the rebel faction aligns with the BJP.
