Kolkata/New Delhi: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is facing a deepening political crisis after four Rajya Sabha members resigned within four days, raising fresh questions over the party’s unity and leadership.
Recent resignations by senior leaders have come alongside claims of a growing rebel camp among MPs and MLAs, increasing pressure on party chief Mamata Banerjee.
The latest resignations came from Rajya Sabha members Prakash Chik Baraik and Koel Mallick on Thursday. Earlier this week, Sushmita Dev and Sukhendu Sekhar Roy also stepped down from the Upper House, dealing a major setback to the party’s parliamentary strength.
Speaking after his resignation, Baraik said he had accepted the verdict of the people of West Bengal and felt it was no longer appropriate to continue in the post. He indicated that his future political plans would become clear in the coming days.
The political turmoil has also exposed differences within the party leadership. Senior TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee openly criticised Abhishek Banerjee and said Mamata Banerjee would have to choose between the two leaders. He accused Abhishek of failing to respect senior leaders and blamed internal decisions for the party’s present difficulties.
Amid the crisis, TMC MP Shatrughan Sinha publicly backed Mamata Banerjee and rejected speculation about leaving the party. He said the TMC chief remained a strong political leader despite the current challenges.
Meanwhile, Congress has dismissed reports suggesting a possible merger with TMC. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal described such claims as baseless and said recent meetings between TMC and Congress leaders were part of normal political discussions within the INDIA bloc.
The rebellion within TMC first gained momentum after claims that a group of MPs had sought recognition as a separate bloc and that several MLAs had begun distancing themselves from the party leadership. Reports of a breakaway camp have continued to fuel uncertainty over the future shape of West Bengal politics.
Adding to the pressure, the Calcutta High Court has questioned the process through which a rebel legislator was recognised as Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly. Separately, the court granted interim protection to Abhishek Banerjee in a signature forgery case while allowing the investigation to continue.
The developments come at a time when Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee have been holding meetings with opposition leaders in Delhi as part of efforts to strengthen coordination within the INDIA bloc. However, the continuing resignations and public criticism from within the party have made damage control increasingly difficult.
Political observers believe the coming weeks will determine whether TMC can contain the rebellion or faces a larger organisational split. The battle is no longer limited to numbers in Parliament and the Assembly; it is now also about control over the party’s future direction and political legacy.
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