Next Phase of Trinamool Congress Rebellion Could Be Lok Sabha
NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee—who is already grappling with an internal rift within the party over a position in the Legislative Assembly—may face even worse news. The rebellion brewing within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) now appears to be entering a new phase. After successfully mounting a challenge within the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, the rebel leaders are expected to shift their focus toward the party’s parliamentary wing, potentially triggering a new power struggle within the Lok Sabha.
This fresh crisis emerged when Ritabrata Banerjee, a leader expelled from the TMC, claimed that the majority of the party’s MLAs had backed the rebel faction—a move that resulted in their recognition as the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly. Significantly, the rebels have repeatedly emphasized that their battle is not against Mamata Banerjee herself, but rather against the growing influence of her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee.
With their position on the Assembly front largely consolidated, it is now believed that the rebel leaders are actively seeking ways to garner support among the TMC’s Members of Parliament (MPs). The party currently holds 29 seats in the Lok Sabha, where Abhishek serves as the Parliamentary Party Leader. Political observers suggest that if a substantial section of the MPs—potentially 20 or more—were to align with the rebel camp, pressure for a change in the parliamentary leadership could intensify. Such a move would constitute the most direct challenge to date against Abhishek’s authority within the party. Unlike the Assembly rebellion—which remains largely confined to the sphere of West Bengal politics—any changes occurring at the parliamentary level would carry national implications, impacting the TMC’s role within the broader opposition alliance as well as its functioning within Parliament.
Meanwhile, Humayun Kabir, a leader expelled from the party, has issued a statement. Kabir, who now leads his own party, the ‘Aam Janata Unnayan Party’ (AJUP), stated today that Trinamool MPs are considering removing Mamata’s nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, from the post of the party’s leader in the Lok Sabha. He further added that this issue could once again trigger a split within the party.
According to Kabir, twenty Trinamool MPs have already spoken to the Speaker regarding the removal of Abhishek Banerjee. Trinamool currently has 29 MPs in the Lok Sabha. He remarked, “Out of the 29 MPs, twenty will break away from the party in the Lok Sabha.” When asked whether the MPs had held any meetings in this regard, Kabir stated that it is an ongoing process. He said, “Barasat MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and all the other MPs involved in these discussions are talking about this. Please wait a little longer.” He added, “When the right time comes, they will pressure the Honorable Speaker of the Lok Sabha to remove him. This is the information I have.”
The Trinamool has already split into two factions over the issue of the Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly. Out of the party’s 80 MLAs, 57 are backing the expelled rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee, rather than the party chief’s choice—Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay. The Assembly Speaker has now recognized Ritabrata Banerjee for this position and has even handed over the keys to the party’s room within the State Assembly to him.
Many of these MLAs are resentful of the support Mamata is extending to her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee. Kabir noted that he, too, has faced a similar situation. Kabir alleged, “Ever since the Panchayat elections were held in 2023, Abhishek Banerjee—who was the party’s General Secretary at the time—has been collecting money from the ‘three-star members’ of the Panchayats.” He claimed that these funds were channeled to IPAC, which had also accepted money in exchange for allocating election tickets. “At that time, I had drawn Mamata Banerjee’s attention to this matter. I had raised several issues against him. But she did not listen to me… no one stood by me… She approved of everything Abhishek did for the party. Today, many people are speaking out against Mamata Banerjee,” he said.
