West Bengal’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) is facing fresh internal turbulence after the party’s defeat in the Assembly election, with reports of a rebellion against party chief Mamata Banerjee.
According to information circulating in Kolkata, around 50 TMC MLAs are said to have held a secret meeting to support expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition, challenging the party’s official choice.
The rift follows a controversy over a letter submitted to the Speaker backing Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay for the opposition leader post. TMC MLAs Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha complained that several signatures on the letter were forged, leading to a CID probe. During the inquiry, some MLAs reportedly told investigators that the signatures attributed to them were not theirs.
Soon after, the party leadership expelled Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha for alleged anti-party activity. The expulsions have reportedly intensified discontent within the TMC, with claims that a majority of its 80 MLAs may now be rallying behind Ritabrata.
Suspended senior leader Riju Datta has claimed that more than 50 MLAs met at a hotel and are preparing to submit a list to the Speaker, asserting they represent the “real” TMC. He also alleged that TMC MPs in both Houses of Parliament are ready to switch to the BJP, a claim that has added to speculation over a possible split and the battle for the opposition leader post.
