In a major development for the embattled Trinamool Congress (TMC), the party’s West Bengal state president, Chandrima Bhattacharya, has resigned from all organizational posts. Once considered one of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s closest and most trusted aides, Bhattacharya’s exit severely deepens the internal crisis plaguing the party following its recent Assembly election defeat.
Immediately after tendering her resignation, Bhattacharya met with the rebel TMC faction at the Bengal Assembly.
Clean Break From the Party
In her formal resignation letter, Bhattacharya stripped herself of all administrative and financial authority within the party, stating:
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Complete Withdrawal: Resigned as the official authorized signatory for all TMC bank accounts and associated organizations.
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ECI Authority Revoked: Withdrew her status as the party’s authorized representative before the Election Commission of India (ECI).
“Where there is no faith, where there is no trust, it is not possible to work. That is why we resigned,” Bhattacharya stated to reporters, though she added in her letter that she would retain the “highest regard” for Mamata Banerjee.
Rising Internal Rebellion
Bhattacharya was appointed state chief on June 3, replacing Subrata Bakshi after Mamata Banerjee dissolved all organizational committees to restructure the party. However, her exit highlights an escalating civil war within the TMC ranks:
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The Rebel Alliance: Bhattacharya aligned herself with the rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, who has secured the post of Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly. This occurred because a majority of TMC MLAs backed him over Mamata Banerjee’s handpicked nominee, Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay.
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Existential Crisis: The TMC is fracturing on multiple fronts. A majority of its 80 MLAs have joined the breakaway group under Ritabrata Banerjee, while 20 of the party’s MPs have revolted, merging with a minor party (NCPI) to pledge support to the NDA.
Battle for Trinamool Bhavan
The resignation follows a dramatic physical showdown on Friday, where the dissident faction seized control of the party’s headquarters, Trinamool Bhavan, in Kolkata. The rebels replaced the locks, put up a new signboard naming Arup Roy as the party chairman, and staked a claim with the Election Commission to be recognized as the “Real TMC.”
Loyalists to Mamata Banerjee retaliated by filing police complaints, prompting heavy security deployment from the Kolkata Police and CRPF to prevent further clashes.
Political Reactions
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The Mamata Camp: TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh issued a sharp retort, questioning Bhattacharya’s integrity and asking why she didn’t resign “when she enjoyed plum portfolios given by Mamata Banerjee during her government.”
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The Opposition: BJP State President Samik Bhattacharya dismissed the internal chaos, claiming the TMC has completely lost its political footing. “People know TMC has lost its political relevance,” he remarked, stating that the public has lost interest in whichever faction ultimately gains control.
