The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is facing a deepening internal crisis after a rebel faction claimed to have removed party founder Mamata Banerjee from the post of chairperson and elected senior MLA Arup Roy as her replacement. The move marks a dramatic escalation in the power struggle that has gripped the party following its defeat in the recent West Bengal Assembly elections.

According to reports, the rebel camp convened a special session in Kolkata on Monday, during which a parallel leadership structure was announced. The gathering reportedly elected Arup Roy as party chairperson and approved a new organisational hierarchy under the leadership of Opposition leader Ritabrata Banerjee. The development represents the most significant challenge yet to Mamata Banerjee’s authority since she founded the party.

However, the faction loyal to Mamata Banerjee has moved swiftly to counter the rebellion. Sources said Team Mamata has submitted a fresh list of office-bearers and members of the party’s national working committee to the Election Commission, reaffirming that Banerjee remains the legitimate head of the Trinamool Congress. The move is aimed at preventing the rebel faction from gaining official recognition and reinforcing the existing party structure.

Leaders aligned with the rebel camp claimed that around 60 of the party’s 80 MLAs either attended or endorsed the special session. They further asserted that nearly 70 former councillors of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, along with representatives from multiple districts across West Bengal, participated in the meeting. If accurate, such numbers would indicate substantial support for the dissident group and raise serious questions about the balance of power within the organisation.

The special session, held at a hotel in Kolkata, reportedly lasted 31 minutes and brought together rebel legislators, former civic representatives, and party functionaries from various parts of the state. During the meeting, participants discussed the party’s future direction and approved the formation of what they described as a renewed leadership structure following dissatisfaction over the party’s electoral performance.

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The internal conflict has emerged in the aftermath of the TMC’s loss to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the recently concluded Assembly elections, a setback that has triggered intense debate within the party over leadership, strategy, and organisational reforms. Dissatisfaction among some legislators and functionaries has reportedly grown in recent weeks, culminating in Monday’s dramatic challenge to Mamata Banerjee’s leadership.

The Election Commission’s response to the competing claims could prove crucial in determining which faction is recognised as the official Trinamool Congress. Until then, the battle for control of one of West Bengal’s most influential political parties appears set to intensify, with both camps claiming legitimacy and support from elected representatives and party workers.

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