As the Trinamool Congress (TMC) grapples with a widening internal rebellion, loyalists of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have asserted that an “expelled leader” like Ritabrata Banerjee cannot function as their Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Assembly .
This strong rebuttal comes a day after 58 TMC MLAs, led by Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, formally staked a claim to the LoP position, creating a massive rift within the party ranks following its electoral defeat .
‘Mamata is the Original Trinamool’
Senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh led the charge from the loyalist camp, vehemently rejecting the authority of the rebels who were recently expelled from the party on allegations of “anti-party activities” .
“The MLAs who won are all Trinamool candidates and used the image of Mamata Banerjee to win. Now, an expelled leader cannot be the head of a political party,” Ghosh told reporters, emphasizing that Mamata Banerjee is the “original Trinamool Congress” and the “Maa (Mother) of Trinamool” .
The loyalists have submitted a counter-objection to Assembly Speaker Rathindranath Bose, challenging the legitimacy of the rebel group’s claim. Ghosh pointed to potential irregularities, noting that “numerous MLAs’ signatures appear on both our letter and theirs,” suggesting confusion or forgery .
The Rebel Strategy: Amputating the Nephew
The rebel faction, which claims the support of over 58 legislators—enough to cross the two-thirds threshold required to avoid anti-defection penalties—has executed a strategic manoeuvre. While asserting control over the legislative party, they have publicly maintained a posture of loyalty to Mamata Banerjee while isolating Abhishek Banerjee .
“Abhishek Banerjee will have absolutely no role in it… The people of Bengal have absolutely no connection with him,” Ritabrata Banerjee said, launching a direct assault on the party’s national general secretary. The rebels have requested Mamata to step into a ceremonial role as “chief advisor,” but insist on Ritabrata leading the opposition floor .
Whither the Organizational Structure?
To curb the dissent and signal a massive overhaul, the TMC high command dissolved all party committees and frontal organisations across West Bengal on Wednesday, citing the need for an “introspection and performance review” after the humiliating loss of power .
However, even as the party machinery was dissolved, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—now in power under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari—watched the unravelling of its rival with calculated interest .
While the loyalists dig in with their limited numbers, the coming days will determine whether the Speaker recognizes the rebels’ claim, potentially triggering a Maharashtra-style split in the party. As the legal and political battle intensifies, the “original Trinamool” finds itself fighting for survival against those who claim to be its true inheritors.
