Riju Dutta, a suspended spokesperson for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), said an internal revolt is brewing within the party in West Bengal.
These allegations suggest a potential destabilization of the ruling party's legislative majority. If a significant number of lawmakers exit, it could shift the political balance in the state and weaken the party's grip on local governance.
Dutta said that an "intimidation culture" has taken hold within the organization [1]. He specifically pointed to the influence of the political consultancy I-PAC, which he said is sabotaging the party from within [4]. According to Dutta, the consultancy's involvement has led to deep-rooted corruption, and systemic mismanagement [3].
The suspended leader said that around 50 MLAs could break away from the TMC [2]. This potential exodus is driven by dissent over how the party is being run, specifically the role of external consultants in decision-making processes [4].
Dutta's public stance on the party leadership has been inconsistent. In some instances, he defended Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regarding chants directed at her outside a court [1]. In other statements, he slammed Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, saying they are responsible for allowing I-PAC to control the party [2].
He further linked the current internal strife to a broader pattern of mismanagement. Dutta said that the party's current trajectory is unsustainable due to the influence of these external actors [3].
“Around 50 MLAs could break away from TMC”
The claims by Riju Dutta highlight a recurring tension in Indian politics between traditional party hierarchies and the rise of professional political consultancies. If the predicted defection of lawmakers occurs, it would signal a failure of the TMC's internal cohesion and potentially open the door for opposition parties to challenge the government's stability in West Bengal.
