Expelled Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Ritabrata Banerjee arrived at the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, carrying letters of support from fellow lawmakers [1].
This development represents a significant internal challenge to the party leadership. By presenting these signatures, Banerjee is attempting to demonstrate the strength of a rebel faction and press for the position of Leader of the Opposition [3].
Banerjee was accompanied by Sandipan Saha, another expelled MLA, during his arrival in Kolkata [1]. Observers said the move is a bid to trigger a formal split within the TMC, mirroring previous political upheavals in other Indian states [3].
Reports on the exact number of supporting legislators vary across sources. One report said Banerjee carries support letters from 59 MLAs [1], while another indicates the number is 57 [2]. Other reports describe the backing as being from over 50 [3] or nearly 60 MLAs [4].
The submission of these letters to the assembly is intended to legitimize the rebel group's standing within the house. The faction seeks to establish a formal presence that could disrupt the current legislative balance of power in West Bengal.
This internal rift comes after the expulsion of Banerjee and Saha from the party. The scale of the reported support suggests that the discontent within the TMC may extend far beyond a few individual members, potentially threatening the party's cohesion in the assembly.
“Banerjee is attempting to demonstrate the strength of a rebel faction”
The arrival of Ritabrata Banerjee with a significant number of support letters suggests a coordinated effort to challenge the TMC leadership from within. If a large block of MLAs formally breaks away, it could lead to a reconfiguration of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly and weaken the ruling party's legislative dominance.
