A rebellion within the Trinamool Congress has led to the formation of a breakaway faction known as "Asli TMC" in West Bengal.
This split threatens the stability of the party's leadership in the Bengal Legislative Assembly and challenges the authority of party supremo Mamata Banerjee. The crisis centers on an internal power struggle regarding the role of Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of Mamata Banerjee, and the perceived marginalization of veteran party leaders.
Jitender Singh, a Trinamool Congress MLA, said a split is expected following the internal turmoil. The unrest intensified after the West Bengal assembly election results were announced on May 4, 2024 [4]. The friction has divided the 28-year-old party [3] along ideological and personal lines, creating a rift between the established leadership and the rebel camp.
The rebel faction is led by figures including Ritabrata Banerjee, who has been recognized as the Leader of the Opposition. The scale of the defection is significant, with reports indicating that between 58 [1] and 59 [2] MLAs have either broken away to form the rival faction or signed letters of support for the rebel camp.
These lawmakers are operating primarily within the Bengal Legislative Assembly in Kolkata. The movement emerged as a direct response to disagreements over party hierarchy and the influence of Abhishek Banerjee within the organization. The rebellion marks one of the most severe internal crises in the history of the party, as lawmakers openly challenge the direction of the leadership.
“A rebellion within the Trinamool Congress has led to the formation of a breakaway faction known as 'Asli TMC'.”
The emergence of 'Asli TMC' signals a breakdown in the internal consensus of the Trinamool Congress, shifting the conflict from private disagreements to a public legislative battle. By securing the role of Leader of the Opposition for Ritabrata Banerjee and mobilizing nearly 60 lawmakers, the rebels have created a formal political alternative that could weaken Mamata Banerjee's grip on the state assembly and alter the balance of power in West Bengal.
