Rebel TMC Legislators Oust Mamata Banerjee as Chairperson, Elect Arup Roy

Rebel TMC Faction Names Arup Roy Chairperson, Escalates Leadership Battle

The internal crisis within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) deepened on Monday as the rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee announced senior MLA Arup Roy as the chairperson of what it termed the “real” Trinamool Congress, directly challenging the authority of party founder and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The move marks a significant escalation in the ongoing power struggle within the party, which has witnessed growing dissent following its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections and subsequent divisions in both its legislative and parliamentary ranks.

Parallel Leadership Structure Announced

The decision was taken during a meeting attended by rebel legislators, councillors and senior leaders in New Town. The gathering also approved the formation of a new national working committee, with the rebel camp arguing that the party’s organisational structure had not been reconstituted after the expiry of its previous term.

According to leaders present at the meeting, the faction maintained that it was acting in accordance with the party constitution and sought to rebuild the organisation through a fresh leadership framework.

Following the meeting, Arup Roy was elected chairperson, while several other senior leaders were assigned key positions, including vice-chairpersons, general secretaries and treasurer. The newly formed committee also announced plans to appoint an independent auditor to examine the party’s financial records.

Challenge Extends Beyond Legislature

In another major development, the rebel camp announced the suspension of national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, signalling that the conflict has now expanded from legislative leadership disputes to the party’s organisational hierarchy.

The faction claimed substantial support among elected representatives, asserting that dozens of MLAs and a large number of councillors had either attended the meeting or endorsed its resolutions.

Official Camp Rejects Move

Leaders loyal to Mamata Banerjee dismissed the developments and questioned the legitimacy of the rebel group’s actions.

Senior party leader Kunal Ghosh described the exercise as politically insignificant and reiterated that the Trinamool Congress remains firmly identified with Mamata Banerjee’s leadership. The official camp has maintained that the rebel faction lacks the authority to restructure the party or alter its leadership framework.

Growing Political Turmoil

The rebellion is widely regarded as one of the most serious internal challenges faced by the Trinamool Congress since its formation. Tensions have intensified in recent weeks after rebel legislators backed Ritabrata Banerjee’s claim to the post of Leader of the Opposition, defying the choice supported by the party’s official leadership.

The unrest has also extended to Parliament, where a significant number of MPs have reportedly distanced themselves from the party’s official position, raising fresh questions about the future of the organisation.

With both camps claiming legitimacy and support, the battle for control of the Trinamool Congress appears set to move into a new phase, potentially involving legal, organisational and political confrontations in the weeks ahead.