THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

TMC splits for first time in 28 years, rebels tell Abhishek Banerjee ... The split within the Trinamool Congress deepened on Wednesday after expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee declared that party MP Abhishek Banerjee would have "absolutely no role" in the legislature wing now controlled by rebel MLAs. Earlier today, 58 dissident TMC legislators seized control of the party's legislature wing. They elected Ritabrata as their leader and secured recognition from West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose, marking the first split in the party's 28-year history. Addressing reporters after meeting the Speaker, Ritabrata drew a sharp distinction between the rebel camp and Abhishek Banerjee, who has long been considered the second-most influential figure in the party after TMC chief Mamata Banerjee. "Abhishek Banerjee will have absolutely no role in it. Neither our legislative party nor the party organisation has any connection whatsoever with him. Nor does the public have any connection with him. The people of Bengal have absolutely no connection with him," Ritabrata said during a press briefing. "If there were a connection, he wouldn't have remained in hiding for 26 days. He would have …

Suspended MLA Ritabrata Banerjee arrives with 59 support letters, puts ... The cracks within the Trinamool Congress widened further on Wednesday as suspended MLA Ritabrata Banerjee arrived at the Assembly, claiming the backing of 59 legislators and challenging the authority of the party leadership’s faction in the House. The development marks the latest escalation in a bitter internal dispute within the Trinamool Congress over the selection of the Leader of Opposition and allegations surrounding signatures on Assembly-related documents. The rebellion has already led to the expulsion of two party MLAs and triggered a CID investigation. Advertisement Ritabrata, who represents the Uluberia Purba Assembly constituency, reached the Assembly premises at around 10.30 am. Soon after, several MLAs were seen entering the complex. Members associated with the rebel camp indicated that another suspended legislator, Sandipan Saha of Entally, was also expected to join them before a meeting of the group. Advertisement “After Sandipan arrives, there will be a brief meeting, and after that, whatever is necessary will be done, and then the media will be informed,” a woman MLA aligned with the group …

Rebel TMC MPs to merge with Nationalist Citizens Party, to back NDA ... Thecrisis within the Trinamool Congress deepenedon Sunday after 20 rebel MPs decided to merge their faction with a little-known party, the Nationalist Citizens Party of India, and extend support to the NDA. According to sources, the rebel Trinamool MPs decided to associate themselves with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India due to legal complications in forming a separate bloc. "We have joined the Nationalist Citizens' Party. It is a recognised regional party. We have merged with it. It will be decided in the court which one the real TMC is," said TMC rebel MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay. The latest political twist comes hours after the rebel faction regrouped at Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s residence in Delhi following a meeting with Union Minister Bhupender Yadav. Subsequently, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjeewrote to Lok Sabha Speaker asking him to treat the TMCas a single political party and not to accord any recognition or facility to any purported separate group or faction of the party. Before the rebel MPs decided to merge with the little-known party, these meetings were being seen as an indication that th…

TVK to bolster party structure as scores from AIADMK join CHENNAI: The election dust has barely settled, but the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has turned its attention towards building up its party machinery. TVK president and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had given the task of restructuring and strengthening the party to minister and party chief coordinator K A Sengottaiyan, who left the AIADMK last November to join TVK. Part of this effort includes the spree of inductions of more people from other parties, including the AIADMK. On Thursday, over 300 functionaries, including former minister Vellamandi N Natarajan, former DGP and MLA R Natraj, former MLAs R Thangadurai and M Rajasekhar (Rajapalayam), along with former district secretaries, union councillors and youth wing members from the AIADMK and other parties joined the TVK at its headquarters in Panaiyur. In the past week, four AIADMK MLAs have resigned from their seats and joined the ruling party, drawing allegations of horse-trading by the TVK. During Thursday’s event, TVK’s general secretary (election campaign management) Aadhav Arjuna praised Sengottaiyan and called on more members of the AIADMK to join the TV…

TMC's Total Collapse: Mamata Banerjee Faces Fresh Crisis As Rebel MPs ... The crisis within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) seems to intensify in the coming days with fresh developments indicating that the rebellion against the party leadership is gaining momentum as several TMC MPs are reportedly considering switching allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), potentially escalating the political turmoil within the Mamata Banerjee -led party. According to sources, the rebel MPs currently do not have any scheduled appointment with the Lok Sabha Speaker and are unlikely to meet the Speaker on Tuesday as well, though further developments are awaited. The uncertainty comes amid ongoing speculation over the future course of action by the rebel lawmakers. Breaking It Down What are the implications of Kakoli Ghosh's leadership challenge? How does the anti-defection law affect TMC MPs' decisions? What are the recent actions of TMC MPs in Delhi? Created with AI. Errors are possible Sources also suggest that another TMC Rajya Sabha MP is likely to resign within the next one or two days, potentially giving another blow to the Mamata Banerjee-led party. The expected resignation could furth…

TMC's Derek O'Brien, Sagarika Ghose to join INDIA bloc rally on March 31: Shashi Panja TMC's Derek O'Brien, Sagarika Ghose to join INDIA bloc rally on March 31: Shashi Panja Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], March 30 (ANI): Two Members of Parliament (MPs) of the Trinamool Congress, including Derek O'Brien and Sagarika Ghose, will join the INDIA alliance rally on March 31 at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, said TMC leader Shashi Panja. "Our two MPs, Derek O'Brien and Sagarika Ghose, will attend the INDIA alliance rally on March 31 at Ramlila Maidan, in Delhi," said TMC leader Shashi Panja. Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Minister Gopal Rai on Friday announced that several prominent leaders from the INDIA alliance will participate in a rally at Ramlila Maidan on March 31 in support of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal following his recent arrest. He said, "Reactions from the entire country came after the arrest of CM Arvind Kejriwal. The main leaders of the INDIA alliance will join the rally on March 31 in Ramlila Maidan."Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav, Farooq Abdullah, Bhagwant Mann, Champai Soren, Tejashwi Yadav, and Sitaram Yechury…

20/28 Trinamool Lok Sabha MPs drop bomb, tell Speaker they want to join NDA As many as 20 out of 28 Trinamool Congress MPs, led by senior party leader Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, have written to Speaker Om Birla, saying that they want to be part of the BJP-led NDA and snap ties with the Trinamool parliamentary party led by its national general secretary and party chief Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee. The decision was taken during a meeting at theDelhiresidence of Union Minister and senior BJP leader Bhupender Yadav. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who is in Delhi, alsomet the rebel MPs at the minister’s home. Sharmila Sarkar, Trinamool MP from Bardhaman Purba and one of the rebels, told media, “We held a meeting. We want to sit separately. I respect Didi. I wanted to work, but I could not. Under the leadership of Kakoli di, this separate bloc has been formed. This will help in the development of Bengal.” “We are 20 MPs. We held a meeting at Bhupender Yadav’s residence in the presence of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. We need to support NDA for Bengal’s development. Kakoli di submitted the letter. So far, she is leading our bloc,” she said. The dramatic de…

Bihar floor test: 3 MLAs each from BJP, JDU unreachable, others holed up ... Sources told India Today on Saturday that MLAs of RJD and the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation have gathered at the house of former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav. Meanwhile, BJP MLAs also held a two-day workshop in Bodh Gaya and JD(U) chief whip Shravan Kumar hosted a lunch where at least five of the party's 45 MLAs remained conspicuous by their absence. JD(U) issued a whip to ensure the presence of all party MLAs inside the assembly on Monday. The party's chief whip Shravan Kumar said those defying the whip "will lose their membership". The NDA, which has 128 legislators in the 243-member assembly, is likely to sail through. The RJD, Congress, and Left parties, who are part of the Mahagathbandhan, have 114 lawmakers. As per sources, three MLAs each from the BJP and the JDU remain unreachable as legislators from other parties spend the night at assigned locations. JDU MLAs are staying at Hotel Chanakya while those from the BJP are at the Hotel Patliputra Exotica. Congress MLAs who were earlier at the house of former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav have left for …

How TMC Fell Apart in 13 Days: The Delhi Meeting, the Signature Row and ... Kolkata: For nearly three decades, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) revolved around one political figure - Mamata Banerjee. Since she founded the party in 1998 after breaking away from the Congress, the TMC had survived electoral battles, defections and internal disagreements without suffering a formal split. That changed on Wednesday. In a dramatic turn of events, 58 MLAs wrested control of the party's legislature wing, elected rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee as their leader and secured recognition from the Assembly Speaker. The development marked the first formal split in the 28-year-old party and exposed deep divisions that had been building beneath the surface for months. Breaking It Down What led to the resignation of Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim? How is the rebellion within TMC similar to the Shiv Sena split? What allegations are being made against Abhishek Banerjee? Created with AI. Errors are possible While the rebellion appeared sudden, it was the culmination of growing dissatisfaction within sections of the party after TMC's defeat in the Assembly elections on May 4. Also Read: Firhad Hakim, Mamata's C…

TMC Turmoil Intensifies: Saugata Roy Voices Anguish at Party Colleagues ... Updated 13 June 2026 at 21:24 IST Roy, a veteran parliamentarian, sharply criticised the growing trend of party leaders switching sides, describing the rush to align with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as “unethical.” Asian News International India News 2 min read Follow : TMC Turmoil Intensifies: Saugata Roy Voices Anguish at Party Colleagues Over Desertions, Meets Mamata at Her Residence | Image: ANI Kolkata, West Bengal: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) grappled with escalating internal discord on Friday as senior leader Saugata Roy openly expressed distress over a continuing wave of desertions, even as he arrived at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence for a crucial high-level party meeting. When asked about reports of fellow TMC MPs Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Satabdi Roy holding formal discussions with Union Minister Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi, a visibly upset Roy simply remarked, “I am sad.” Roy, a veteran parliamentarian, sharply criticised the growing trend of party leaders switching sides, describing the rush to align with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as “unethical.”…

'Hope Speaker gives us justice': Abhishek Banerjee files ... Sign in Welcome! Log into your account Forgot your password? Get help Password recovery Recover your password A password will be e-mailed to you. 'Hope Speaker gives us justice': Abhishek Banerjee files disqualification pleas against rebel MPs India 2 min. Read ‘Hope Speaker gives us justice’: Abhishek Banerjee files disqualification pleas against rebel MPs By CurrentIndia.com June 19, 2026 Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Abhishek Banerjee meeting Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee Friday met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to submit a disqualification petitions against party MPs who have sought to merge with the lesser-known Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI).Banerjee, who is former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew, said he submitted around 20 petitions involving relevant judgements and media reports. “I can only present my side before him, and I have done that. I submitted the disqualification petitions that I showed you. Around 20 such petitions have been submitted. All our prayers are included in these petitions, and all relevant judgments…

TMC rift deepens; Itahar MLA quits minority cell post Home Nation States International Politics Defence & Security Opinion Economy Sports Entertainment Trending: The internal rift within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) continues to widen following the recent political shift in West Bengal, with fresh signs of fragmentation emerging from North Dinajpur district. Mosharraf Hossain, the influential MLA from Itahar, has resigned from his position as the state president of the party’s minority cell on Sunday. He announced his decision during a press conference held at his residence. Hossain stated that he had already submitted his resignation letter to the party leadership at Kalighat. Citing personal reasons, he said his mother has been critically ill, and he needs to remain by her side. He had returned home only a few days ago after completing the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca. He explained that due to his family circumstances and mental stress, it was not possible for him to fulfill his responsibilities within the party or attend the Assembly session. Notably, Hossain was absent from the first day of the budget session of the newly formed BJP-led state government last Friday, …

Mamata 'reins in’ Abhishek, appoints 2 joint gen secys - The Tribune To keep the flock together and prevent further disintegration within the party, Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has appointed two new joint general secretaries alongside general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. The move is being widely seen as an attempt by Mamata to rein in her nephew, who has increasingly been viewed as a central figure in internal tensions. Mamata, during the national working committee meeting held at her residence, named Rajya Sabha MPs Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen as national joint secretaries to “assist” Abhishek. The biggest setback for the TMC came in the form of a major split, with 58 rebel MLAs breaking ranks and electing “expelled” legislator Ritabrata Banerjee as their leader in the Assembly. The rebel legislators subsequently submitted a letter to Speaker Rathindra Bose seeking recognition of Ritabrata as the Leader of the Opposition. It may be mentioned that Ritabrata had never criticised Mamata, which only proved that the members were upset with Abhishek. Ritabrata had openly targeted Abhishek, asserting that he would have no rol…

West Bengal: Suspended TMC spokesperson Riju Dutta slams ... A suspendedTrinamool Congress spokesperson has triggered a political stormin West Bengal after openly praising newly-appointed Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, claiming his intervention prevented large-scale violence against workers of the Mamata Banerjee-led party following the recent killing of the BJP leader's personal assistant after the West Bengal election results were announced. Riju Dutta, who has been suspended by the TMC for six years over alleged violations and non-compliance with the party's disciplinary committee, said that Adhikari acted with restraint during the sensitive phase and helped prevent escalation after thebrutal killing of his long-term close aide. "Suvendu Adhikari has saved the lives of at least 5,000 Trinamool Congress workers. His PA was shot on May 6. If he had called for revenge in Bengal that night, 5,000 TMC workers would have been killed. Instead, he asked everyone to maintain peace and not take the law into their own hands," Dutta said while speaking tonews agency ANI. Extending his praise further,Dutta described Adhikari's political trajectory as 'unmatched'and even suggested he wa…

Manickam Tagore named TNCC president, replacing Selvaperunthagai in ... Share: Copied Listen to Article Audio Loading voice… 0.85× 1× 1.15× 1.3× 1.5× Synopsis The Congress high command has replaced TNCC chief Selvaperunthagai with three-time Virudhunagar MP Manickam Tagore — a leader who publicly pushed for a TVK alliance against the party's DMK-first line. The timing, one day after Selvaperunthagai criticised CM Vijay and the state government, makes this reshuffle as much about internal discipline as electoral strategy. Key Takeaways Manickam Tagore , Lok Sabha Whip and three-time Virudhunagar MP , was appointed TNCC president on 27 June . Selvaperunthagai , whose removal came a day after he criticised CM C. Joseph Vijay and the state government. Tagore had publicly advocated an alliance with Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) , a position that clashed with the Congress-DMK alliance line. Selvaperunthagai had consistently backed the DMK alliance and opposed any TVK tie-up — exposing a sharp internal divide. Tagore is considered close to Rahul Gandhi and is expected to reorganise the party ahead of future electoral battles in Tamil Nadu . The Indian National Congress on Saturday, 27 J…

Newsmakers | TMC pulls a surprise with Sagarika Ghose in RS polls list, Matua leader too among nominees | Political Pulse News - The Indian Express TheTrinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday announced the names of four candidatesfor the Rajya Sabha elections from West Bengal on February 27. While the party nominated party leaders Sushmita Dev, Md Nadimul Haque and Mamata Bala Thakur, it sprang a surprise by announcing well-known journalist Sagarika Ghose as its nominee. “We are pleased to announce the candidature of @sagarikaghose, @SushmitaDevAITC, @MdNadimulHaque6 and Mamata Bala Thakur for the forthcomingRajya Sabhaelections. We extend our heartfelt wishes to them and may they work towards upholding Trinamool’s enduring legacy of indomitable spirit and advocacy for the rights of every Indian,” the TMC said in a post on X. According to the current strength of the West Bengal Assembly, four TMC candidates and one from the BJP will be elected to the Rajya Sabha. The TMC has 222 members in the Assembly while the BJP has 68. Others make up three seats, while one seat is vacant in the 294-member House. Haque is a two-time Rajya Sabha MP, having been sent to the Upper House of Parliamen…

TMC Rebel Leaders List: Key Leaders Leaving Mamata Banerjee's Party Growing Signs of Dissent Within TMC The All India Trinamool Congress has faced increasing internal turbulence in recent months, with several prominent leaders distancing themselves from the party or openly expressing dissatisfaction. The developments have come at a politically sensitive time for the party led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, as it seeks to consolidate its position amid mounting challenges from rivals. While the TMC leadership continues to project confidence and unity, a number of departures and critical voices have fueled speculation about unrest within the party ranks. Sushmita Dev Among the most notable exits is that of former Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev. Dev recently resigned from both the Trinamool Congress and the Rajya Sabha, stating that she intends to focus on political work in Assam. Rejecting allegations of opportunism, she maintained that her decision was driven by regional priorities rather than political calculations. Her departure is seen as a significant setback for the party's efforts to strengthen its presence in the Northeast. Sukhendu Sekhar Ray Veteran parliamenta…

NDA Crosses 300-Mark in Lok Sabha as 20 Rebel TMC MPs Extend Support New Delhi: The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has received a major boost in the Lok Sabha after a group of 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs formally expressed their willingness to support the ruling coalition, pushing the NDA’s effective strength beyond the 300-seat mark. The development is being viewed as one of the biggest political setbacks for the TMC and its chief, Mamata Banerjee, in recent years. Rebel TMC Bloc Writes to Speaker The rebellion was spearheaded by senior TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who claimed that 20 of the party’s 28 Lok Sabha MPs had signed a letter addressed to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The letter reportedly sought recognition of the group as a separate bloc and conveyed its decision to support the BJP-led NDA in Parliament. According to reports, the letter was submitted to the Speaker’s office after a meeting attended by dissident TMC MPs in New Delhi. The MPs are also said to have requested seating arrangements alongside NDA members in the Lok Sabha. NDA’s Parliamentary Position Strengthens If the support of the rebel MPs is formally recognised, the NDA’s strength i…

Exclusive: Turmoil in Tamil Nadu Congress as dissent grows against ... Published Feb 20, 2025 | 8:27 AM⚊Updated Feb 20, 2025 | 9:59 AM Dissenting leaders of Tamil Nadu Congress; MS Diraviyam, Sriraja Chokkar, Teekaraman, Chengam G Kumar and RN Amirtha Raja. Synopsis:Some district-level leaders of the Congress in Tamil Nadu are dissenting against state President K Selvaperunthagai. Sources said that at the core of the rebellion is the allegation that Selvaperunthagai has shown little respect for district-level leadership. A group of 20 leaders is in Delhi to meet the party’s central leadership to raise their concerns. Internal rifts have surfaced in the Tamil Nadu Congress, a year after Sriperumbudhur MLA K Selvaperunthagai took charge as the party’s state chief, leading to an open rebellion by several district leaders. Selvaperunthagai, who took charge as Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) President in February 2024, now faces mounting pressure from within the ranks. Dissatisfied with his leadership, a group of dissenting district-level Congress leaders from Tamil Nadu has travelled to Delhi, seeking intervention from the All India Congress Committee (AICC) to remove Selvap…

all party meeting: Latest News & Videos, Photos about all party meeting ... Be available for counsel and advice, but wait for the children to ask for it. Offering unsolicited advice, which comes from a position of love and concern, and telling the children that parents know better, comes in the way of their learning process. Set the boundaries, make the rules, agree on do and dont’s, but do this at the very start. After that, it is their game to play. Ram Mandir news: Eight individuals accused in the alleged Ram Mandir donation embezzlement case are set for judicial custody proceedings today in Ayodhya. The local bar association is deliberating whether its lawyers will represent the accused, with a decision expected to favor the temple's interests. An FIR was registered following allegations of misappropriated donations, prompting a government-formed SIT to investigate the matter. The Trinamool Congress is facing an internal crisis as the Mamata Banerjee faction filed multiple police complaints against dissident leader Ritabrata Banerjee and his group. Allegations include unauthorized use of the party's logo and impersonating party leadership, notably naming Arup Roy as chairper…

Facing imminent split, Mamata overhauls party, brings in old-timers Besieged by rebellions – first by the newly elected MLAs, and followed by growing murmurs of an imminent split among her MPs – Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee, in a desperate bid to keep her flock together, on Friday announced a major organisational reshuffle in the party, packing it with loyalists and old-timers. While Mamata has retained nephew Abhishek Banerjee as the party’s national general secretary despite widespread criticism, she has appointed two joint national secretaries –Rajya SabhaMPs Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen – to assist him, signalling to the rebels that the decision will be taken jointly and not unilaterally by Abhishek. The announcement was made after the national working committee meeting of the party, which, according to sources, was attended by a handful of leaders at the TMC chief’s Kalighat residence inKolkata. The reshuffle comes two days after 60 of the newly elected 80 TMC MLAs defied Mamata Banerjee and party number two Abhishek Banerjee to choose expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly. Within minutes of it, TMC leadership dissolve…

Lalu wants to make his son Bihar CM, Sonia her son PM but both chairs ... News Desk Last Updated: 29 October 2025, 08:48 PM IST Share Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticises INDIA bloc`s dynastic politics and corruption allegations, while showcasing NDA`s development agenda for Bihar, including infrastructure and welfare schemes. File Photo: Union Home Minister Amit Shah | ANI Darbhanga: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday attacked the INDIA bloc, alleging that RJD supremo Lalu Prasad wants to make his son Tejashwi the chief minister of Bihar and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi her son Rahul the PM, while asserting that "both posts were not vacant". Addressing back-to-back public rallies in Darbhanga, Samastipur and Begusarai, Shah also questioned whether the members of radical outfit Popular Front of India (PFI), who were arrested after the Centre banned the organisation, would remain behind bars if the Congress-RJD combine came to power in Bihar. "The BJP has given tickets to many youngsters for the Bihar assembly polls, like Maithili Thakur, who does not have any political background, but the RJD and Congress have not, as Lalu ji wants to make his son Tejashwi the chief mi…

Chandrima Bhattacharya Resigns After Mamata Banerjee Questions Loyalty ... English News Local West bengal Chandrima Bhattacharya Resigns After Mamata Banerjee Questions Loyalty Amid TMC Office Feud Chandrima Bhattacharya resigns after Mamata questions loyalty: Senior Trinamool leader quits all organisational posts, says won't return to Kalighat Kolkata 56 minutes ago Copy link The battle for control of the Metropolitan building has intensified between the "Kalighat Trinamool" faction and the "Ritabrata Trinamool" camp. Amid the controversy, Chandrima Bhattacharya has come under suspicion after Mamata Banerjee reportedly questioned whether the senior leader had been part of the "conspiracy" surrounding the takeover of the party office. Metropolitan office feud triggers dramatic resignation Hurt by the allegation, Chandrima has resigned from all organisational posts in the Trinamool Congress, including her position as state president. She has also stepped down as a signatory to the party's bank accounts. The resignation marks another setback for Mamata Banerjee, who has now lost one of her longest-serving political associates. Mamata's question deeply hurts Chandrima Bhattacharya In…

BJP ORGANISATIONAL RESTRUCTURING - The Economic Times The Centre is reviving work on the politically sensitive delimitation issue, while the BJP prepares for key organisational appointments. The ruling NDA is also exploring opportunities to expand its coalition ahead of a crucial political cycle, with discussions on delimitation gaining momentum and potential parliamentary initiatives being considered. The Trinamool Congress has dissolved all its party committees in West Bengal. This move follows their defeat in the state assembly election. The party will now conduct a thorough review to identify reasons for the loss. New appointments and a restructured organisation will be announced soon. This significant change aims to rebuild the party machinery and prepare for future elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with top BJP leaders to begin significant organizational changes. The party is preparing for upcoming Rajya Sabha and Maharashtra MLC elections. Discussions also covered organizational preparedness and pending appointments. This exercise signals a recalibration of the party's machinery. Cabinet expansions in Assam and West Bengal are also expected soon. A Meta employe…

TMC Revamps Organisation, Strikes Balance Between Veterans, GenNext ... The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Friday announced its much-anticipated organisational reshuffle, revamping district-level leadership across West Bengal in a calibrated effort to strike a balance between trusted old guards and emerging next-generation leaders ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Pending for over a year, the reshuffle aims to impose greater discipline, curb factionalism and prepare for the high-stakes Assembly polls next year, as the TMC eyes a straight fourth term in power. The most telling move came in Birbhum, where the TMC dropped controversial strongman Anubrata Mondal from the post of district president, a position he has held unchallenged for years. In a significant structural shift, the party abolished the post altogether in the district, opting instead for a nine-member core committee, handpicked by TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, to oversee the organisation, party sources said. The symbolism was sharp. Mondal, still out on bail in connection with a cattle smuggling case, has been included in the new core committee, but stripped of unilateral control. The post of district chairperson …

Rajya Sabha Chairman accepts merger of 7 AAP MPs with BJP In a transformative shift for the Upper House, Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan has formally accepted the merger of seven Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The decision, announced on Monday, effectively decimates the AAP's strength in the Rajya Sabha from ten members to just three, while propelling the BJP’s individual tally to a dominant 113. The move was spearheaded by high-profile leaders Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, and Ashok Mittal, who personally met BJP President Nitin Nabin to formalize their entry into the party. The group, which also includes former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, Swati Maliwal, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, and Rajinder Gupta, cited "suffocation" and a departure from the party’s founding anti-corruption principles as reasons for their exit. By reaching the seven-member threshold, the group claims to fulfill the two-thirds requirement under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, a legal maneuver designed to bypass disqualification under the Anti-Defection Law. The Aam Aadmi Party has launched a fierce political counter-attack, filing a formal petition before the Rajya…

tmc-split-nda-arithmetic-anti-defection-2026 - thesquirrels.in Policy & Governance Policy 20 TMC MPs, 293 NDA Seats, and One Anti-Defection Threshold: The Arithmetic of India's Biggest Parliamentary Split Since 2022 Twenty TMC Lok Sabha MPs, led by Chief Whip Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, have written to Speaker Om Birla declaring support for the BJP-led NDA — potentially crossing the anti-defection threshold of 19 MPs (two-thirds of TMC's 28). Bhupendra Chaubey 09 Jun 2026 14:01 IST Follow Us New Update Listen to this article 0.75x 1x 1.5x 00:00 / 00:00 What Happened on June 8 On Monday evening, June 8, 2026 , veteran TMC leader and Lok Sabha Chief Whip Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar (Barasat MP, in Parliament since 2009) announced that she was forming a separate faction within the Trinamool Congress with the backing of 20 Members of Parliament . "I will form a separate faction of the TMC. I have the backing of 20 MPs, and they are all aligned with me," Dastidar declared at a press conference. Within hours, the 20 rebel MPs wrote a formal letter to Speaker Om Birla declaring their support for the BJP-led NDA and requesting separate seating arrangements as a distinct parliamentary bloc. The rebel…

Udayan Guha's arrest a vindictive move by BJP Govt: TMC's Saugata Roy Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saugata Roy on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led government following the arrest of former state minister Udayan Guha, terming the move as "vindictive" and alleging that the BJP-led government was targeting opposition leaders. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Roy characterised the arrest as an act of political vendetta, and said, "Udayan Guha's arrest is a vindictive move by the BJP Govt. They do not work but chase after the opposition. This is what they do, and this is what they are doing." TMC MLA from Dinhata, Udayan Guha was arrested by police in Kolkata's Phoolbagan area earlier today, officials said. The arrest marks a high-profile escalation in the ongoing legal and political climate in West Bengal. Addressing the ongoing internal crisis within the TMC, where 20 rebel MPs have merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), Roy dismissed the credibility of the move. He described the NCPI as a non-entity and accused the dissident MPs of exploiting legal loopholes to bypass the anti-defection law. "NCPI is not even a party. These MPs are falling…

TMC announces major organisational rejig in Bengal ahead of 2026 ... TMC announces major organisational rejig in Bengal ahead of 2026 Assembly polls Trinamool Congress announces major organisational reshuffle in West Bengal districts, led by Mamata Banerjee, to counter BJP ahead of 2026 elections. By PTI October 19, 2025, 6:31:55 PM IST (Published) 2 Min Read The Trinamool Congress on Sunday, October 19, announced an organisational reshuffle across several districts of West Bengal, including changes in its minority cell, as part of its strategy to counter the BJP ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The ruling party named new block and town presidents for its women’s, youth, and workers’ wings in districts such as Nadia, Birbhum, and Basirhat (North 24 Parganas). The party also unveiled fresh district-level committees. ”The TMC under the inspiration and guidance of party chairperson Mamata Banerjee is pleased to announce the list of new Trinamool Congress block/town presidents,” the party said in a statement. With a focus on consolidating minority votes and countering the BJP’s Hindutva narrative, the TMC also appointed new presidents for 35 organisational districts, including Ko…

TMC rebels merge with Nationalist Citizens Party in Tripura Tripura TMC rebels merge with Nationalist Citizens Party amid party crisis TNM (With ANI Inputs) | Published On: Jun 14, 2026 ANI Photo | TMC rebels merge with Nationalist Citizens Party amid party crisis Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal criticised rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs for merging with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) in Tripura, describing the situation as “theatre of the absurd.” Posting on X on January 31, 2026, Sibal wrote that rebel MPs can merge with another political party “only if the TMC wished to do so” and urged that the party should “disqualify them”. Also Read Manuel Neuer returns as Jamal Musiala starts Germany’s World Cup opener Uttarakhand CM Dhami praises intellectual community’s role in state development India lose 2-3 to Netherlands in opening match of FIH Men’s Pro League 2025-26 Rotterdam leg He stated: “TMC rebels: Will merge with Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP). Indian Democracy has become the ‘theatre of the absurd.’ A joke! The rebels of the TMC legislative party cannot merge with a political party; that can happen only if the TMC wished to do so! Disqual…

BMC Election Results: Uddhav-Raj's Reunion After 20 Years Falls Flat ... By Raju Kumar Fri, 16 Jan 2026 04:39 PM (IST) Source: JND Related Articles HighLights Uddhav-Raj Thackeray alliance failed in BMC 2026 elections. Thackeray family's three-decade dominance in Mumbai ended. BMC 2026 results signal major political shift in city. Mumbai BMC Election Result 2026: The trend of the vote counting in the high-stakes BMC elections showed that the union of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) supremo Raj Thackeray, after two decades, did not influence the voters in the financial capital of India. If the trend holds, the Thackeray family's almost three-decade dominance in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will end, prompting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to create history in the metropolitan city as the saffron party for the first time may have the mayor post. Going by the trends, the Mahayuti alliance is poised to cross the majority mark of 114 needed to wrest power in the BMC. The Thackeray cousins, who reunited ahead of Thursday's poll, were behind the ruling alliance in Mumbai, with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-UBT ahead …

'Mamata Banerjee treated Trinamool MPs and MLAs as servants': BJP slams ex-Bengal CM amid TMC infighting West Bengal BJP leader Rahul Sinha has accused Mamata Banerjee of treating Trinamool Congress MLAs and MPs as "mere servants." He cited a rebel leader's claim that elected representatives were forced to stand and applaud Abhishek Banerjee during a review meeting post-election defeat. This comes amid significant internal strife, with a rebel faction claiming substantial MLA support and several MPs merging with another party.

The rise and fall of Tamil Maanila Congress - Governance Now With an eye on May 16 assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, TMC joins hands with People's Welfare Front (PWF) Shivani Chaturvedi| April 13, 2016 | Chennai Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) – once a major political force in Tamil Nadu—seems to be losing steam today. With no following at the grassroot level, the party is practically a spent force. Artificial Intelligence has been used to trace the shift in magnetically active patches on the Sun from 1916 to 2007 by scanning 100 years of hand-drawn Sun records from the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KoSO). This could give a much longer view of how solar activity changes over time. General Dhiraj Seth, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, took over as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) from General Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM, who superannuated after more than four decades of distinguished service to the nation on Tuesday.   General Dhiraj Seth is an alumnus of the N She runs a tailoring shop from a single room in her house. Every morning she stitches school uniforms, answers queries on WhatsApp, collects payments through UPI and orders fabric online. Officially, she still belongs to India`s infor…

NDA strength crosses 300 in Lok Sabha as 20 rebel TMC MPs extend ... New Delhi/IBNS: The strength of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Lok Sabha has crossed the 300-mark, recovering the ground it lost in the 2024 general elections with the backing of a bloc of 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs. The NDA's tally in the Lower House has now risen to 312, with the BJP remaining the largest constituent of the coalition with 240 seats. The support from the rebel TMC MPs has significantly strengthened the ruling alliance's position in Parliament and reduced its dependence on key allies such as N. Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] for pushing legislation and navigating crucial votes. The development marks a major boost for the BJP-led coalition, giving it a more comfortable majority in the Lok Sabha and greater political flexibility on contentious issues. 20 TMC MPs back NDA According to reports, 20 Lok Sabha MPs from the Trinamool Congress held a closed-door meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav's residence in New Delhi. Th…

GK Vasan-led Tamil Maanila Congress likely to quit NDA, key decision ... News Desk Last Updated: 14 June 2026, 01:44 PM IST Share After failing to win any of the five seats it contested under the BJP's lotus symbol in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election, the Tamil Maanila Congress is likely to consider exiting the NDA and authorising G.K. Vasan to decide its future alliance strategy. Tamil Maanila Congress president GK Vasan. (Photo: X) Chennai: The Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC), led by GK Vasan, is likely to take a crucial decision on its political future at its executive committee meeting in Chennai on Sunday, with indications that the party may formally walk out of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after years of association with the BJP-led coalition. Party sources said a resolution proposing the TMC's exit from the NDA is expected to be discussed and adopted during the meeting. Another resolution is likely to authorise Vasan to decide the party's future alliance strategy, giving him a free hand to hold consultations and explore political options ahead of upcoming electoral battles. The development comes against the backdrop of the party's disappointing performance in th…

Trinamool Congress overhaul: Old-timers in, Abhishek Banerjee loyalists dropped | Kolkata News - The Indian Express Besieged by rebellions — first by the newly elected MLAs and followed by growing murmurs of animminent split among her MPs— Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee, in a desperate bid tokeep her flock together, on Friday announced a major organisational reshuffle in the party, packing it with loyalists and old-timers. While Mamata has retained nephew Abhishek Banerjee as the party’s national general secretary despite widespread criticism, she has appointed two joint national secretaries –Rajya SabhaMPs Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen – to assist him, signalling to the rebels that the decision will be taken jointly and not unilaterally by Abhishek. The announcement was made after the national working committee meeting of the party, which, according to sources, was attended by a handful of leaders at the TMC chief’s Kalighat residence inKolkata. The reshuffle comes two days after 60 of the newly elected 80 TMC MLAs defied Mamata Banerjee and party number two Abhishek Banerjee to choose expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly. T…

60 rebel TMC MLAs reject Mamata's pick for leader of ... - OpIndia June 3, 2026 | 4:10 PM TMC heading for a massive split: 60 MLAs reject Mamata’s pick for leader of opposition, back expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee, party dissolves all committees A major split has surfaced within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), with 60 MLAs reportedly refusing to accept Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the party’s Leader of the Opposition (LoP). The rebel camp is instead supporting expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee for the post. The development has triggered a fresh political crisis in the Bengal Assembly and raised questions about the strength of Mamata Banerjee’s leadership within the party. On Wednesday, 3rd May, Ritabrata Banerjee reached the Assembly along with several legislators, including Arup Roy, Shiuli Saha and Akhruzzaman. A joint letter carrying the signatures of 59 rebel MLAs was submitted to Speaker Rathindra Bose, proposing Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition. The rebel camp claims it represents the “real” Trinamool Congress and says a majority of the party’s MLAs are now with them. TMC MLA Mustafizur Rahman confirmed that he had signed the letter, while Sabina Yasmin said the…

Mamata loyalist, now leading TMC rebellion: Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar's ... After the Trinamool Congress (TMC)’s defeat in the West Bengal Assembly polls led to a rebellion among its MLAs, it was Barasat MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, one of party supremo Mamata Banerjee’s closest and oldest aides, who first raised a voice of dissent in the TMC’s parliamentary party and quit from all official posts. As a rebel group of 58 MLAs protested the party’s choice of Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, as many as 20 of the party’s 28 Lok Sabha MPs, led by 66-year-old Ghosh Dastidar, split from the TMC andsought to merge with little-known outfit Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). On Monday, after submitting a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla urging him to recognise the rebels as a separate bloc, Ghosh Dastidar claimed that two-thirds of the TMC’s Lok Sabha MPs had supported the split. “Two-thirds of the TMC’s MPs have given a letter to the Speaker for a separate seating arrangement. We will merge with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India and support the NDA,” she said. Before she became a rebel leader, Ghosh Dastidar was considered a staunch Mamata loyalist, by the TMC chief’s s…

Puducherry NDA on the rocks, Chief Minister Rangasamy boycotts crucial ... Within days of finalising the seat-sharing pact with its coalition partner BJP, Chief Minister and All India NR Congress (AINRC) president N Rangasamy is sulking and has boycotted a crucial alliance meeting convened by the saffron party on Tuesday, leaving the NDA on the rocks ahead of the April 9 election to the 30-member Union Territory Assembly. Though the deal was sealed with 16 seats for the AINRC and 14 for the BJP, there was no agreement on a few seats, with both parties staking claim to them. Further, the AINRC is opposed to the BJP’s attempt to bring into the NDA fold the Lakshya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK) of Jose Martin, son of lottery baron Santiago Martin. This has forced a rethinking by Rangasamy, who has reportedly opened a channel of communication with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) of actor Vijay for an alliance. Advertisement The unexpected turn of the AINRC exploring an alliance with the TVK has rattled the BJP. This comes close on the heels of Rangasamy unilaterally announcing the candidate for the Yanam constituency, a former French enclave near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. He had named …

What Happens if All 107 TVK MLAs Resign? Constitutional Procedures, Re ... News Update Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Now the post-election atmosphere in Chennai has shifted from celebration to a potential constitutional standoff. Actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has issued a stark warning: all 107 newly elected MLAs will resign if the DMK or AIADMK attempts to form the government by ignoring the TVK’s status as the single largest party. Therefore, the state is looking at a “nuclear option” that could trigger Article 356 and force a massive wave of by-elections. Meanwhile, legal experts are debating the Speaker’s role in verifying such a massive move. Also Read | Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi Sentenced to 17 Years in Jail - Advertisement - Article 190: The Speaker’s Power Over Mass Resignations Now a resignation in the legislative assembly is not a mere “rubber stamp” process. Under Article 190 of the Indian Constitution, an MLA must submit their resignation in writing to the Speaker. Therefore, the Speaker is constitutionally obligated to verify that the resignation is both voluntary and genuine. First, the Speaker has the authority to hold inquirie…

'Masterminded by Amit Shah': Congress attacks BJP leader over merger of ... With 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs announcing their merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), the Congress on Monday alleged that home ministerAmit Shah“masterminded” what it called an “illegal breakaway” of legislators as part of a wider plan to secure a two-thirds majority for theNDAin theLok Sabha. The opposition party described the move as “bizarre”, claiming it was a calculated political strategy with serious implications for parliamentary balance. Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh launched a sharp attack on the Union home minister, accusing him of undermining democratic norms and constitutional values through the development. In a post on X, Ramesh said: “A desperate Union home minister – who is an absolute disgrace to the position once held by Sardar Patel – has taken Indian democracy to new lows in a shameless manner." Ramesh further alleged that the merger of the rebel MPs was not incidental but orchestrated. “He has masterminded the illegal breakaway of 20 TMC MPs and their wholly questionable fusion with an unheard of and reportedly register…

Congress: Amit Shah engineered 'illegal' TMC split to build NDA's majority Congress accused Amit Shah for engineering TMC illegal split. Photo: PTI New Delhi, Jun 15 (PTI) With 20 rebel Trinamool Congress MPs announcing their merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India, the Congress on Monday claimed that Home Minister Amit Shah masterminded the “illegal breakaway” of the legislators, and the “bizarre move” was part of his strategy to engineer a two-thirds majority for the NDA in the Lok Sabha. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that decency, decorum, and devotion to constitutional values and principles remain vulnerable and threatened every day Shah continues in office. “A desperate Union home minister – who is an absolute disgrace to the position once held by Sardar Patel – has taken Indian democracy to new lows in a shameless manner,” Ramesh said on X. “He has masterminded the illegal breakaway of 20 TMC MPs and their wholly questionable fusion with an unheard of and reportedly registered but unrecognised political outfit formed just three years back,” the Congress general secretary (communications) said. The Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) could well…

BMC fell flat on its face: Uddhav faction on HC relief for Latke Home India BMC fell flat on its face: Uddhav faction on HC relief for... India BMC fell flat on its face: Uddhav faction on HC relief for Latke PTI 13 October, 2022 06:02 pm IST Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Linkedin Follow Us : Text Size: A- A+ Mumbai, Oct 13 (PTI) The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena on Thursday said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had faced huge embarrassment with the Bombay High Court directing it to accept the resignation of Rutuja Latke. The court earlier in the day asked the BMC to accept Latke’s resignation, paving the way for her to contest November 3 byelection to the Andheri East Assembly constituency as the candidate of the `Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray’ party. Party leader and former Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar said the BMC was an autonomous body and it should not make “a joke of itself” by working under political pressure. Show Full Article “I have been saying this since the beginning that the BMC will fall flat on its face,” she added. Latke, employed as a clerk with the BMC, in her petition in the high court had alleged that the corporation was not taking decision on …

Abhishek Banerjee writes to LS Speaker, urges decline to separate group ... Listen to this article in summarized format Listen Loading... × × Subscribe to Unlock AI Briefing and Premium Content New Year Offer 24 Hours Left Subscribe Now Already a member? Sign In What's Included Exclusive Stories Daily ePaper Access Smart Market Tools Curated Investment Ideas Ad-lite Experience Subscription AP Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party Leader and National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday, urging to decline the recognition and status to any separate group or faction of the party. The letters comes as a response to "news reports that certain TMC Lok Sabha MPs have submitted, or propose to submit, a communication to your good office seeking to be recognised as a separate group or faction of the AITC , independent ofthe legislative party." Banerjee asked Birla to treat TMC as single party "represented solely through duly authorised Leader and Whip". He also urged that the Speaker must afford TMC an opportunity of being heard before any decision. "It is also respectfully submitted that the AITC reserves its rights, including its right to init…

East Burdwan TMC youth wing secretary quits party, creates flutter The East Burdwan district youth general secretary of the Trinamul Congress tendered his resignation today from the party, raising eyebrows in political circles ahead of the Assembly polls. Surajit Karmakar forwarded his resignation to Purbasthali (Dakshin) MLA, Swapan Debnath, who is also the state’s Animal Resources Minister. He also sent a copy to the district president of the TMC’s youth wing, Rasbehari Haldar. Karmakar was one of the key architects behind Debnath’s successive victories in Purbasthali over the years. Advertisement After submitting his resignation, Karmakar said: “It was becoming gradually unbearable for me to compromise further with the party’s present leadership. The party has become a coterie of corrupt people and the leaders are more cosy with businessmen and less flexible with party members who want to work. I raised the issue repeatedly but the leaders didn’t like it. So, it’s better if I quit now.” Advertisement Karmakar, however, did not divulge any plans of moving to any other party. Haldar, the district youth chief, said: “This move is unexpected from a senior leader like him. I’ll talk…

Trinamool Congress' breakaway faction to meet the Election Commission ... Leader of the Opposition in the Bengal Assembly Ritabrata Banerjee | Photo Credit: PTI With the battle for control of the Trinamool Congress gathering pace, the breakaway faction, led by Leader of the Opposition in the Bengal Assembly Ritabrata Banerjee, will meet the full bench of the Election Commission in New Delhi on Thursday to stake a claim on the party’s election symbol and bank accounts. A 10-member delegation of the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress, which claims to represent the real Trinamool, will meet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and other members of the poll panel, signalling a renewed challenge to Mamata Banerjee’s leadership. Speaking to mediapersons at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport before leaving for Delhi on Wednesday, Ritabrata said, “We had made a submission before the Election Commission and were trying to meet the Chief Election Commissioner to stake our claim. The CEC has agreed to hear us before a full bench of the Election Commission. When we sit before the bench we will pres…

Mamata removes Saayoni Ghosh, Mala Roy from key party positions June 14, 2026 11:18 IST Amidst a significant internal rebellion and claims of a majority defection to the BJP-led NDA, Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress has undertaken a major leadership shake-up, replacing its youth and women's wing presidents, Saayoni Ghosh and Mala Roy, respectively. Barely a week after Mamata Banerjee reappointed lawmaker Saayoni Ghosh as the Trinamool Congress's youth wing president as part of a major structural overhaul to tighten her grip over the organisation that now faces an existential crisis, the party chief has removed the Jadavpur MP from the position and replaced her with Arnab Banerjee, a youth leader, party sources said. The party also replaced on Saturday Kolkata Dakshin MP Mala Roy with Alifa Ahmed, TMC MLA from Kaliganj in Nadia district, as the president of its women's wing, the Trinamool Mahila Congress, they added. Both Ghosh and Roy are perceived to have joined the band of TMC's rebel MPs in Lok Sabha amid a major turmoil currently rocking the party, with the dissidents stating they will meet Speaker Om Birla on Monday with a letter to seek recognition as the 'real TMC',…

Mamata Banerjee rejigs TMC's youth, women wings - The Economic Times ANI TMC chief Mamata Banerjee Kolkata , Barely a week after Mamata Banerjee reappointed lawmaker Saayoni Ghosh as the TMC's youth wing president as part of a major structural overhaul to tighten her grip over the organisation that now faces an existential crisis, the party chief has removed the Jadavpur MP from the position and replaced her with Arnab Banerjee, a youth leader, party sources said. The party also replaced on Saturday Kolkata Dakshin MP Mala Roy with Alifa Ahmed, TMC MLA from Kaliganj in Nadia district, as the president of its women's wing, the Trinamool Mahila Congress, they added. Both Ghosh and Roy are perceived to have joined the band of TMC's rebel MPs in Lok Sabha amid a major turmoil currently rocking the party, with the dissidents stating they will meet Speaker Om Birla on Monday with a letter to seek recognition as the "real TMC", following the party's electoral drubbing in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls . With senior MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay allegedly also joining the rebel camp on Saturday, leaders of the breakaway faction claimed that 20 of the party's 28 Lok Sabha members were alread…

Shocker for Mamata: Saayoni Ghosh, Yusuf Pathan, Shatrughan Sinha among ... Mamata Banerjee's troubles within the Trinamool Congress appear to be getting bigger. Nineteen Lok Sabha MPs, including prominent leaders such as Yusuf Pathan, Saayoni Ghosh and Shatrughan Sinha, have signed a rebel list as internal dissent spills into Parliament, sources told India Today TV on Wednesday. The MPs who have allegedly joined the dissident camp include Shatrughan Sinha, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Jagdish Chandra Basunia, Khalilur Rahaman, Yusuf Pathan, Abu Taher Khan, Partha Bhowmick, Bapi Haldar, Saayoni Ghosh, Mala Roy, Mitali Bag, Deepak Adhikari, Kalipada Soren, June Malia, Aroop Chakraborty, Sharmila Sarkar, Asit Kumar Mal, Satabdi Roy and Rachana Banerjee. The Trinamool Congress currently has 28 MPs in the Lok Sabha, with one vacancy following the death of Basirhat MP Haji Nurul Islam. Sources in the rebel camp claimed the development has reduced the effective strength of party chief Mamata Banerjee's supporters in the House. According to sources, the dissident MPs do not plan to resign from the party or formally join the BJP immediately. Instead, they are considering functioning as a se…

Defections No Longer Taboo As Elected Representatives Use '2/3rds ... ETV Bharat / bharat Chadha's Move To Merge With BJP Adds To Growing List Of 'Defections' Testing Law In recent times, MPs and MLAs have used a clause in the anti-defection law to their advantage while retaining their posts File photo of BJP National President Nitin Nabin meeting Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal at the party's headquarters, in New Delhi ( PTI ) By ETV Bharat English Team Published : April 25, 2026 at 6:53 PM IST 5 Min Read Hyderabad: Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Friday said there are 10 AAP MPs in the Rajya Sabha, and more than 2/3rd of them are with him. "We are exercising the provisions of the Constitution of India to merge with the BJP," he said in a press conference in New Delhi. Following this, Chadha, with the likes of Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahney and Swati Maliwal, joined the BJP in a classic example of 'political merger'. But, while AAP leaders are claiming that the exit of MPs is a defection, it would not be appropriate, as the MPs, by merging with the BJP, did not defy the anti-defection law. The Anti-Defection Law was enacted in 1985, …

TMC Crisis: Ritabrata's Camp Seizes Key Kolkata Office, Big Showdown ... Ritabrata Banerjee vs Mamata Banerjee:In a major power move, Ritabrata Banerjee's camp has outplayed the Mamata Banerjee-led AITC faction by taking control of the party office in Kolkata's Metropolitan area. On Friday evening, Ritabrata visited the office along with other leaders like Firhad Hakim, Sandipan Saha, Javed Khan, and Akruzzaman. They all sat down for a meeting there. As soon as news broke that the rebel camp had captured the office, pro-Mamata MLA Kunal Ghosh rushed to the spot. This party office falls within his Beliaghata assembly constituency. This is why Kunal tried to take back control from Ritabrata's group. However, political circles are doubtful whether he will be able to succeed. TMC split: EC to decide on party symbol, fight over funds, says BJP After taking over the Metropolitan office, Ritabrata's group stayed for a bit, locked the office from the outside, and left with the key. Kunal Ghosh arrived after they had gone. He attacked the rebel faction, the BJP, and the state government. He said, 'A culture of illegal occupation is going on. An expelled person has become the BJP's B-tea…

TMC split to boost NDA's strength in Parliament as rebel MPs wish to ... The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which leads the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), can look forward to easier passage of key bills in the Lok Sabha as 20 lawmakers from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday conveyed their decision to join the coalition as a separate group. In the Rajya Sabha, where the NDA is already in majority, the party is all set to gain one more seat, as TMC’s Sukhendu Sekhar Roy resigned from the Upper House. An increased strength in the Lok Sabha will help the ruling coalition in the passage of contentious bills, including the Delimitation Bill that will pave the way for carving out new constituencies and increase the number of seats in Lok Sabha, a prerequisite for the implementation of 33% reservation for women in legislatures. The other important bills that the government need support for are the 129th Constitution Amendment Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, that seek to roll out simultaneous elections, which are currently being examined by a joint parliamentary committee. ALSO READ |TMC crisis deepens: 14 rebel MLAs meet Suvendu Adhikari, disc…

Ex-West Bengal minister Jyoti Priya Mallick quits all TMC posts, cites ... Listen to this article in summarized format Listen Loading... × × Subscribe to Unlock AI Briefing and Premium Content New Year Offer 24 Hours Left Subscribe Now Already a member? Sign In What's Included Exclusive Stories Daily ePaper Access Smart Market Tools Curated Investment Ideas Ad-lite Experience Subscription IANS Jyoti Priya Mallick, a former West Bengal minister, has stepped down from all his positions within the TMC Former West Bengal minister Jyoti Priya Mallick on Friday announced that he has resigned from all posts in the TMC , citing poor health. Mallick, a longtime associate of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee , said he had already communicated his decision to the party leadership. "I have resigned from all the posts in the TMC because of my extremely poor health condition," he said. The development comes just days after the TMC carried out a major organisational reshuffle and inducted Mallick into its reconstituted working committee. Mallick had served as the state's food and supplies minister from 2011 to 2021. Also Read: Victory with record margin will be answer to conspiracy behind jailing me: …

Sagarika Ghose: 'Where's The Letter Which Says 20 MPs Are Leaving TMC?' - Rediff.com India News 'Now if you break the party under the 10th Schedule you have to join another party.''You cannot join the NDA as it is not a party. You can only join another party, and that is the BJP.' 'So the question to ask is that these so-called 20 TMC Lok Sabha MPs who are parting ways with the TMC, are they ready to join the BJP and accept Narendra Modi as their leader?' Barely weeks after losing power in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress finds itself battling a twin crisis -- a reported rebellion by nearly 20 Lok Sabha MPs seeking to form a breakaway group in Parliament and growing unrest within its ranks in the state assembly. As reports of defections mount and allegations of attacks on TMC leaders and workers emerge from across Bengal, questions are being raised about whether Mamata Banerjee's party is headed for a major split. In this interview withSyed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com, TMC MP and its Deputy Leader in the Rajya SabhaSagarika Ghoserejects claims that the party is collapsing, accuses the Bharatiya Janata Party of engineering defections through pressure and inducements, and insis…

From Mamata loyalist to rebel camp leader: Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar's ... Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, a four-time Lok Sabha MP from West Bengal's Barasat constituency and a medical doctor by profession, has emerged at the centre of the biggest parliamentary revolt faced by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in recent years. The senior parliamentarian is leading a group of rebel TMC MPs who have sought recognition as a separate bloc in Parliament, putting her on a collision course with party chiefMamata Banerjee. Born in Kolkata in 1959, Dastidar trained as a physician and obtained her medical degree fromRG Kar Medical College. She later underwent postgraduate training in obstetric ultrasound at King's College London. Before entering national politics, she was involved in healthcare and social work initiatives in West Bengal. Dastidar entered Parliament after winning the Barasat Lok Sabha seat in 2009 and has retained the constituency in successive elections. Over the years, she became one of TMC's most prominent women leaders and held several important parliamentary responsibilities, including serving as the party's chief whip in the Lok Sabha and as a member of the Panel of Chairpersons. F…

Mamata Rejigs TMC's Youth, Women Wings; Removes Saayoni, Mala Roy From ... ETV Bharat / state Mamata Rejigs TMC's Youth, Women Wings; Removes Saayoni, Mala Roy From Key Positions The party replaced Kolkata Dakshin MP Mala Roy with Alifa Ahmed, TMC MLA from Nadia, as president of the Trinamool Mahila Congress. File photo of Mamata Banerjee ( ANI ) By PTI Published : June 14, 2026 at 9:48 AM IST 2 Min Read Kolkata: Barely a week after Mamata Banerjee reappointed lawmaker Saayoni Ghosh as the TMC's youth wing president as part of a major structural overhaul to tighten her grip over the organisation that now faces an existential crisis, the party chief has removed the Jadavpur MP from the position and replaced her with Arnab Banerjee, a youth leader, party sources said. The party also replaced on Saturday Kolkata Dakshin MP Mala Roy with Alifa Ahmed, TMC MLA from Kaliganj in Nadia district, as the president of its women's wing, the Trinamool Mahila Congress, they added. Both Ghosh and Roy are perceived to have joined the band of TMC's rebel MPs in Lok Sabha amid a major turmoil currently rocking the party, with the dissidents stating they will meet Speaker Om Birla on Monday with a le…

'Lacking political morality': TMC brands rebel MPs 'traitors', claims ... Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders Kalyan Banerjee and Kirti Azad on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on rebel party MPs, accusing them of lacking political morality, maintaining links with the BJP and abandoning party workers at a time when they were allegedly facing harassment and political attacks. Banerjee also questioned why the dissident MPs were not formally merging with the BJP if they had the numbers they claimed, and asserted that the BJP would not accept them. Addressing a press conference, he said the TMC had convened the briefing afterrebel MPs claimed the supportof a majority of the party's Lok Sabha members and announced plans to seek recognition as a separate faction. Lok Sabha MPKakoli Ghosh Dastidar, a leading figure in the rebel faction, said on Monday that 20 party MPs had decided to write to Speaker Om Birla expressing their support for the NDA. Referring to former TMC Rajya Sabha MPSukhendu Sekhar Roy, who resigned from the Upper House after levelling allegations against the party, Banerjee said rebel MPs should follow the same course if they had grievances against the organisation. "…

TMC rebels back expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee as legislature party ... Listen to this article in summarized format Listen Loading... × × Subscribe to Unlock AI Briefing and Premium Content New Year Offer 24 Hours Left Subscribe Now Already a member? Sign In What's Included Exclusive Stories Daily ePaper Access Smart Market Tools Curated Investment Ideas Ad-lite Experience Subscription ANI Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Ritabrata Banerjee As many as 58 dissident TMC MLAs backed expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee as the leader of the legislature party and conveyed their decision to West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose on Wednesday, a move that could redraw the opposition's power structure in the House. Sources said that Banerjee, along with fellow rebel MLA Sandipan Saha and several dissident legislators , met the Speaker and submitted letters of support signed by 58 MLAs. They also proposed a new leadership team, naming Banerjee as the legislature party leader, Javed Khan, Sandipan Saha and Shiuli Saha as deputy leaders, and Raghunathganj MLA Akhruzzaman as the chief whip. Under the anti-defection law, a breakaway faction requires the support of at least two-thirds of a l…

TMC splits as expelled leader becomes LoP with support of 58 rebel ... Sign in Welcome! Log into your account Forgot your password? Get help Create an account Create an account Welcome! Register for an account A password will be e-mailed to you. Password recovery Recover your password A password will be e-mailed to you. NATIONAL TMC splits as expelled leader becomes LoP with support of 58 rebel legislators By: Agencies Date: June 4, 2026 Share post: WhatsApp Facebook X ReddIt Telegram Linkedin KOLKATA, June 3: The TMC on Wednesday suffered its first split in its 28-year history as 58 rebel MLAs elected expelled leader Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of Opposition, wresting control of its legislature party, and secured recognition from the Assembly Speaker, plunging Mamata Banerjee’s outfit into its gravest internal crisis since its inception. Within hours, a rattled TMC leadership dissolved all party committees and frontal organisations across West Bengal in what appeared to be an attempt to regain political control amid a fast-escalating power struggle. The dramatic rebellion, unfolding within two months of the party’s crushing defeat in the assembly elections, exposed a deep ruptu…

Mamata rejigs TMC's youth, women wings; removes Saayoni ... - ThePrint Home India Mamata rejigs TMC's youth, women wings; removes Saayoni, Mala Roy from key... India Mamata rejigs TMC’s youth, women wings; removes Saayoni, Mala Roy from key positions PTI 13 June, 2026 11:45 pm IST Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Linkedin Follow Us : Text Size: A- A+ Kolkata, Jun 13 (PTI) Barely a week after Mamata Banerjee reappointed lawmaker Saayoni Ghosh as the TMC’s youth wing president as part of a major structural overhaul to tighten her grip over the organisation that now faces an existential crisis, the party chief on Saturday removed the Jadavpur MP from the position and replaced her with Arnab Banerjee, a youth leader, party sources said. The party also replaced Kolkata Dakshin MP Mala Roy with Alifa Ahmed, TMC MLA from Kaliganj in Nadia district, as the president of its women’s wing, the Trinamool Mahila Congress, they added. Both Ghosh and Roy are perceived to have joined the band of TMC’s rebel MPs in Lok Sabha amid a major turmoil currently rocking the party, with the dissidents stating they will meet Speaker Om Birla on Monday with a letter to seek recognition as the “real TMC”, following…

Ritabrata Banerjee Reaches Bengal Assembly With Support Letters From 59 ... Kolkata:Ritabrata Banerjee, the expelled Trinamool Congress legislator from Uluberia (Purba) constituency in Howrah district, arrived at the West Bengal Assembly on Wednesday with letters of support from 59 party MLAs, claiming that their faction is the principal opposition party in the state and not the minority group still owing allegiance to former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee. While Ritabrata entered the Assembly premises at around 10.30 a.m., the party legislators, who had signed the new resolution, started joining him one after another. These legislators said that another expelled Trinamool Congress MLA from Entally in North Kolkata, Sandipan Saha, is likely to arrive at the Assembly premises any time. “After Sandipan arrives, there will be a brief meeting and after that whatever is necessary will be done and then the media will be informed,” said one of the women legislators. On Tuesday, without directly saying anything, Ritabrata had hinted at such a possibility after arriving at the Assembly premises, as he launched a scathing attack against Abhishek Banerjee…

BJP Stands Firm Against Re-inducting Expelled Leaders BJP Stands Firm Against Re-inducting Expelled Leaders BJP's Radha Mohan Das Agarwal confirmed no plans to re-induct expelled leaders K S Eshwarappa and Basangouda Patil Yatnal, stressing party discipline and criticizing Congress. He emphasized BJP's focus on being a worker-based party and described Congress' internal issues and governmental failures as their impending downfall. Devdiscourse News Desk | Mangaluru | Updated: 25-06-2025 22:34 IST | Created: 25-06-2025 22:34 IST This image is AI-generated and does not depict any real-life event or location. It is a fictional representation created for illustrative purposes only. Country: India SHARE BJP national general secretary for Karnataka, Radha Mohan Das Agarwal, firmly stated that there are no discussions to bring back expelled leaders K S Eshwarappa and Basangouda Patil Yatnal. Agarwal emphasized the party's commitment to discipline, highlighting that BJP operates as a worker-driven organization, not tolerating disobedient members. He also criticized the Congress party for internal discord and alleged governmental failures, predicting their eventual collapse due to corrupti…

Mamata's mega reshuffle: Veterans back in command as TMC battles ... In a sweeping organisational overhaul triggered by the first split in the Trinamool Congress's 28-year history, party supremo Mamata Banerjee on Friday unveiled a new leadership structure dominated by loyalists and veteran leaders, signalling a decisive move to tighten her grip over a party battling what many view as an existential crisis. The reconstituted organisational committee, announced after a meeting of the party's national executive at Banerjee's Kalighat residence, marks a clear shift away from the next-generation leadership that had risen in recent years under the stewardship of national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. While Abhishek Banerjee retained his position as national general secretary, the party appointed Rajya Sabha MPs Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen as national joint secretaries to assist him. Within political circles, the move is widely seen as an attempt to institutionalise collective decision-making at the top and dilute the concentration of organisational authority. The reshuffle comes just two days after the TMC dissolved all its committees and frontal organisations across West Beng…

After 58 MLAs, 20 MPs Revolt Against Mamata; Will Rebel Camp Control ... By Raju Kumar Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:45 AM (IST) Source: JND Related Articles TMC Crisis: Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) has been going through turbulence ever since it lost power to the Bharatiya Janata Party in the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections. For the first time in 28 years, the TMC faces the threat of a split. In fact, it appears that Mamata may lose ownership of his party as the maximum number of MLAs and MPs revolted against her. After a split between its MLAs, the TMC appeared headed for an implosion in Parliament, with a group of MPs claiming majority support deciding to ditch Mamata. ALSO READ: TMC Now Has Three Camps: How Kakoli Ghosh-Led 20 MPs' Block Will Change Lok Sabha Game | Explained Number Game In TMC Lok Sabha: 28 MPs (20 Rebels) Rajya Sabha: 13 MPs (1 Rebel resigns) Bengal Assembly: 80 MLAs (58 Rebels) 20 Rebel MPs Back NDA In a dramatic turn of events, the group of rebel TMC MPs backed the BJP-led NDA at the Centre on Monday. On a day when TMC chief Mamata and party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee attended the INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi, Lok S…

TMC rebels' merger 'absurd', disqualify them: Kapil Sibal slams move Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Sunday slammed the rebel Trinamool Congress MPs for announcing a merger with Nationalist Citizens Party (NCPI) in Tripura, calling it "theatre of the absurd." In a post on X, Sibal said that the rebel MPs can merge with another political party "only if the TMC wished to do so." He further stated that the party should "disqualify them". "TMC rebels: Will merge with Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP) Indian Democracy has become the "theatre of the absurd" A joke ! The rebels of the TMC legislative party cannot merge with a political party; that can happen only if the TMC wished to do so ! Disqualify them!" he wrote. TMC rebels : Will merge with Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP) Indian Democracy has become the “theatre of the absurd” A joke ! The rebels of the TMC legislative party cannot merge with a political party ; that can happen only if the TMC wished to do so ! Disqualify them ! — Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) June 14, 2026 This comes as rebel TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said that the 20 MPs will be merging with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India, while exten…

Mamata Banerjee removes Saayoni, Mala from key posts amid TMC ... Mamata Banerjee has swiftly removed Saayoni Ghosh and Mala Roy from leadership roles in the TMC’s youth and women’s wings, replacing them with loyalists Arnab Banerjee and Alifa Ahmed. Kolkata:Barely a week after Mamata Banerjee reappointed lawmaker Saayoni Ghosh as the TMC’s youth wing president as part of a major structural overhaul to tighten her grip over the organisation that now faces an existential crisis, the party chief on Saturday removed the Jadavpur MP from the position and replaced her with Arnab Banerjee, a youth leader, party sources said. The party also replaced Kolkata Dakshin MP Mala Roy with Alifa Ahmed, TMC MLA from Kaliganj in Nadia district, as the president of its women’s wing, the Trinamool Mahila Congress, they added. Both Ghosh and Roy are perceived to have joined the band of TMC’s rebel MPs in Lok Sabha amid a major turmoil currently rocking the party, with the dissidents stating they will meet Speaker Om Birla on Monday with a letter to seek recognition as the “real TMC”, following the party’s electoral drubbing in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls. With senior MP Sudip Bandyopadhya…

TMC submits response to EC, rejects rebel faction's claim as ... Agencies TMC submits response to EC, rejects rebel faction's claim as 'fraudulent' New Delhi: The Mamata Banerjee-led group of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday submitted its response to the Election Commission, rejecting the rival group's claim over the party and asserting that the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) organisational committees remain valid till 2027 under the party constitution. Speaking to reporters after submitting the response, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said the party had filed a "very detailed reply" to the Election Commission in response to a representation made by rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee. Rejecting the rebel faction's principal contention that the tenure of the AITC committee and National Working Committee expired in 2025, Banerjee said the party constitution had been amended over the years to extend the tenure from three years to four years in 2000 and subsequently to five years in 2006, with the changes communicated to the Election Commission. "The last organisational election was held in 2022. Therefore, automatically, the life of the AITC and National Working Committee remains for…

'What Do You Think, That I Am Dead': Mamata Breaks Silence on Rebels ... Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee on Saturday lashed out at rebels who were ditching the party and alleged that they were 'selling' out to the BJP. In a Facebook address, her first since the TMC faced an internal crisis after losing out to the BJP in the recently concluded assembly elections, the former chief minister accused the saffron camp of rigging votes with the election commission, central forces, and terrorising workers with false cases. Bursting out at both -- the rebels and the BJP -- Mamata Banerjee alleged that the rebels were conspiring with the saffron camp to split the party. She dared them (the rebels) to formally join the BJP if they had the courage. Ever since election loss, Mamata's TMC has been dealing with its worst-ever internal rebellion as reportedly, 40-58 MLAs out of a total of 80 have joined the rebel camp, led by Ritabrata Banerjee. While nearly 20 MPs have also sought to be recognised as separate bloc and demanded a special sitting in Parliament. The rebel MPs are also seeking to merge with a local regional and lesser-known party - the Nationalist Citizens Party of In…

Aaditya Thackeray slams TMC rebels as 'timid, ungrateful' Shivsena (UBT)leader Aaditya Thackeray Mumbai: Dubbing TMC lawmakers for rebelling against the party “timid”, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has said those “ungrateful” to former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee are now abandoning the ship, . Thackeray, whose own party in Maharashtra suffered a split in 2022 following a rebellion led by Eknath Shinde, on Friday, June 12, accused the TMC rebels of failing to acknowledge what the party and Banerjee had done for them. The West Bengal Assembly poll setback has triggered an open rebellion by a section of MLAs and MPs, many of whom have questioned party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s leadership and his growing influence over organisational affairs of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). On Monday, June 8, a group of 20 Lok Sabha MPs led by party chief whip Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar claimed to have written to Speaker Om Birla seeking recognition as a separate bloc supporting the BJP-led NDA, triggering a split in the party’s parliamentary ranks. Three Rajya Sabha MPs have quit so far, too. The parliamentary revolt had followed an upheaval in the West Bengal Assembl…

'Insulted and hurt', Tapas Roy quits as TMC MLA; sparks speculations ... Home India ‘Insulted and hurt’, Tapas Roy quits as TMC MLA; sparks speculations about... India ‘Insulted and hurt’, Tapas Roy quits as TMC MLA; sparks speculations about move to join BJP PTI 04 March, 2024 03:15 pm IST Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Linkedin Follow Us : Text Size: A- A+ Kolkata, Mar 4 (PTI) Dealing a blow to the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, senior party leader Tapas Roy on Monday resigned as an MLA, ahead of the scheduled announcement of the Lok Sabha polls. Roy, TMC’s deputy chief whip in the West Bengal assembly and a legislator from the Baranagar constituency of north Kolkata, submitted his resignation to Speaker Biman Banerjee in the afternoon minutes after expressing his “deep disappointment and hurt” with his party and its supremo Mamata Banerjee for “deserting him during trying circumstances”. Roy’s resignation gave rise to fervent speculations on whether the senior leader would quit the TMC altogether and join the BJP, or for that matter, any other opposition party in the state. Show Full Article Roy, on his part, maintained that he would take those decisions in “due time”. He q…

ECI intervenes in TMC split: Mamata and Ritabrata factions asked to ... The Election Commission of India has issued formal letters to All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) chief and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, as well as Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, seeking clarifications over the ongoing claims and counter-claims regarding the party's organisational elections and authorised signatories. #BREAKING: The Election Commission of India has written letters to former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee regarding the claims and counter-claims by both factions with respect to organisational elections and authorised…pic.twitter.com/y5O9Ay6v32 Both leaders have been directed to submit their detailed responses by 5:30 PM on Monday, July 6, 2026. Also Read:TMC meltdown: Mamata strikes back after rebels appoint parallel party chief The Election Commission of India (ECI) has stepped into the growing rift within the Trinamool Congress, sending formal letters to both Mamata Banerjee and rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee. The poll panel is seeking clear responses on the competing claims over the party’s organisati…

Upendra Kushwaha resists BJP merger push as son is set to lose ... BJP ally and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief Upendra Kushwaha’s son Deepak Prakash is set to lose his position as Bihar minister after the NDA did not nominate him for the MLC elections on June 18. This came at a time when Kushwaha, a Rajya Sabha MP, has made it clear that he will not merge his party with the BJP. Of the 10 vacant MLC posts, theNDA is set to win nine, given that it has 202 MLAs in the 243-strong Assembly. There are 75 seats in the Legislative Council. While the JD(U) and the BJP have announced candidates for four seats each, the other berth has gone to theChirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). The other seat will go to the RJD’s Sunil Kumar Singh, whose term was set to expire in this cycle. With neither the ruling alliance nor the Opposition fielding any extra candidates, no elections will be required. Asked how he felt that he was now set to lose his ministership, Prakash toldThe Indian Express, “I was reinducted into the Cabinet only due to the blessings of the NDA leadership. I was made minister as per provisions of the Constitution. I will continue to be a minister as long as I e…

Why TMC Rebellion Needs 19 MPs and What is Maharashtra Model | Anti ... The TMC rebels need to ensure the support of at least 19 MPs to ensure they don't run afoul of the anti-defection law while the Maharashtra Model keeps being repeated in West Bengal's political circles Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar claims the support of 20 TMC MPs, though party loyalists dispute the figure. Under the anti-defection law, the rebels need the support of at least 19 Lok Sabha MPs to avoid disqualification. Questions over a formal merger and the rebels' actual numbers could complicate their plans. Amidst the ongoing tussle within the Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) parliamentary party, one number that has often been invoked is 20. The leader of the rebel faction, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, claims she has the support of 20 MPs while Mamata loyalists within the TMC refute her claims stating that she has the support of only 13 or 14 MPs. But the magic number, as it is often called, for Dastidar lies a step below at 19. The rebels remaining a part of the Lok Sabha is contingent on their faction receiving the support of 19 MPs from their party. This follows a playbook that has been used time and again in Indian pol…

Congress Alleges Amit Shah Behind TMC Split, Claims Move Aimed at ... National New Delhi, June 15:A fresh political controversy erupted on Monday after the Congress accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of orchestrating the breakaway of 20 Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs and their merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), alleging that the development was aimed at strengthening the NDA's numbers in the Lok Sabha. The allegations come a day after 20 rebel TMC MPs met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and announced their decision to merge with the NCPI, a registered but unrecognised political party based in Tripura. Congress General Secretary (Communications)Jairam Rameshalleged that the split was an "illegal breakaway" engineered by the Home Minister as part of a larger political strategy. In a post on X, Ramesh claimed that the merger was designed to help the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) move closer to a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha. "A desperate Union Home Minister has masterminded the illegal breakaway of 20 TMC MPs and their wholly questionable fusion with an unheard-of political outfit," Ramesh alleged. He further argued that the move could elevate …

Missing MLAs, Expulsions And Forgery: Are TMC's Latest Developments A ... The cracks within the Trinamool Congress appear to be widening as the party grapples with the fallout of its electoral defeat in West Bengal. What began as murmurs of discontent has now spilled into the open with missing MLAs, the expulsion of two legislators, a signature forgery controversy, public resignations by senior leaders, and growing allegations of infighting. The developments have put Party Supremo and Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew, party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, under increasing pressure at a time when the BJP is aggressively attempting to consolidate its gains in the state. While the TMC leadership insists that the party remains united and attributes the crisis to political poaching by the BJP, recent events suggest the party is facing one of its toughest internal challenges in years. Breaking It Down What actions did TMC take against the expelled MLAs? How did Mamata Banerjee respond to the internal crisis? What did the CID investigation reveal about the signature forgery case? Created with AI. Errors are possible Related News Agencies Turn Heat on TMC Amid Mel…

Are Saayoni Ghosh, Mala Roy in TMC rebel camp? Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar's ... Amid the fast-moving shifting of allegiance among theTrinamool Congress (TMC)leaders, rebel party MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar on Wednesday indicated that two more MPs – actor-turned-politician Sayoni Ghosh and veteran leader Mala Roy – have joined their camp. However, both Saayoni Ghosh and Mala Roy could not be reached for confirmation. This comes amid daylong speculation that 33-year-old Saayoni Ghosh, a close confidante of both TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, and 68-year-old Mala Roy have joined the rebel camp led by Dastidar in the Lok Sabha. Asked about this, Dastidar replied cryptically in a text message: “Yes.” A senior TMC leader aligned with Mamata Banerjee, however, expressed surprise. Referring to Ritabrata Banerjee breaking away with over 60 of the 80 newly elected TMC MLAs in the Assembly, the leader said: “Even after the revolt by the MLAs in the party, Mamata Banerjee retained Sayoni Ghosh as president of TMC’s youth wing. Mala Roy, who was chairperson ofKolkataMunicipal Corporation (KMC), was appointed president of the party’s women wing by Mamata. It would be su…

Trouble mounts for Mamata as 58 rebel TMC MLAs back ... - Dailyhunt D escribing the dissident legislators and their supporters as 'traitors', he asserted that the TMC would overcome the crisis and remain united under Mamata Banerjee's leadership. Advertisement Published: June 3, 2026, 2:27 PM IST Share Share Article https://www.india.com/news/india/mamata-banerjee-ritabrata-banerjee-abhishek-ipac-sandipan-saha-trinamool-congress-bjp-tmc-javed-khan-akhruzzaman-8434764/Copy Trinamool Congress Supremo Mamata Banerjee (PTI) New Delhi: In a significant political development, as many as 58 dissident TMC MLAs backed expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee as the leader of the legislature party and conveyed their decision to West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose on Wednesday. According to news agency PTI, quoting sources, Banerjee, along with fellow rebel MLA Sandipan Saha and several dissident legislators, met the Speaker and submitted letters of support signed by 58 MLAs. They also proposed a new leadership team, naming Banerjee as the legislature party leader, Javed Khan, Sandipan Saha and Shiuli Saha as deputy leaders, and Raghunathganj MLA Akhruzzaman as the chief whip. Under th…

TMC accuses EC of acting at BJP's behest after meeting rebel faction Senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders Sagarika Ghose and Saugata Roy on Thursday accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of acting under the influence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after it granted an audience to a rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, which claims to represent the "real Trinamool". Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose questioned how individuals expelled from the party for allegedly violating party discipline could be recognised by the Election Commission as representatives of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC). "It is now evident before the nation that the Election Commission of India is no longer functioning independently. The Election Commission is being directed by the BJP, particularly by Union Home Minister Amit Shah," Ghose alleged. She argued that, under the Commission's own rules, only duly authorised representatives of a recognised political party are entitled to meet the Election Commission or submit official representations on its behalf. "How could individuals who had allegedly violated party discipline and held meetings…

ECI asks Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee to respond on Trinamool ... Nation and Beyond ECI asks Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee to respond on Trinamool Congress claims TNM (With ANI Inputs) | Published On: Jul 2, 2026 ANI Photo | ECI asks Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee to respond on Trinamool Congress claims The Election Commission of India (ECI) has intervened in the leadership dispute within the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) by requesting responses from Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee regarding competing claims over the party’s organisational structure and authorised signatories. Both sides have been instructed to submit their replies by 5:30 PM on Monday, July 6. This development occurs amid a growing rift in the party, with the faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee asserting legitimacy over the party’s symbols and administration. Also Read ‘Khashaba’ teaser unveils story of India’s first individual Olympic medallist Ahmedabad hosts FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers Window 3 England face Mexico at Estadio Azteca in World Cup 2026 round of 16 Reacting to the ECI’s decision to engage with the breakaway group, TMC MP Sougata Roy questio…

What Mamata's direct takeover of Bengal Trinamool unit signals after ... Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee has taken a defensive strategy to save her fortress after yet another aide deserted her on July 4, 2026. Photos: X/@AITCofficial, iStock Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday (July 4) assumed direct control of the divided Trinamool Congress (TMC), signalling she was preparing the party for a prolonged battle over its organisation, election symbol and identity after another close aide defected. Also read:Mamata speaks on TMC crisis: Key takeaways from her address after Chandrima’s exit In a combative Facebook Live address, the firebrand 71-year-old announced that she would herself take over as the party's West Bengal state president following theresignation of Chandrima Bhattacharya, while appointing Kunal Ghosh and Madan Mitra as state general secretaries. The organisational reshuffle came hours after Chandrima, one of Banerjee's long-time associates who had been made interim state president in June after Subrata Bakshi stepped aside because of ill health, quit and met leaders of the rival faction headed by Ritabrata Banerjee, the Leader of…

Cracks In TMC? 15 MLAs Skip Mamata's Kalighat Meeting, Three Dissent ... By Shubham Bajpai Tue, 19 May 2026 11:14 PM (IST) Source: JND Related Articles With the party's ouster from power in Bengal, the internal strife within the Trinamool Congress is now surfacing. The legislative party meeting, held at Kalighat, the residence of Trinamool supremo and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, wasn't merely a formal review meeting; it exposed the deep discontent brewing against the party's top leadership. The biggest buzz of this meeting was the mysterious absence of 15 MLAs and the questions raised directly by three powerful leaders and MLAs on the working style of National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee. Kunal, Ritabrata and Sandipan launch a direct attack on Abhishek Banerjee. According to party sources cited in a Jagran.com report, Mamata had already issued strict instructions that any complaints should be submitted only in writing. Despite this, Beleghata MLA Kunal Ghosh, Uluberia East MLA Ritabrata Banerjee, and Entally MLA Sandipan Saha drove to Kalighat in the same car, scripting a new rebellion. ALSO READ: Falta Repoll: How Jahangir Khan's Withdrawal Reshaped The Elector…

TMC feud deepens as Mamata camp files fresh police complaints against ... Ritabrata Banerjee The battle for control of the TMC spilled further onto the legal turf on Sunday, with the Mamata Banerjee-led faction lodging fresh police complaints against dissident leader Ritabrata Banerjee and his associates, accusing them of illegally using the party's name, symbol and organisational designations to mislead workers and supporters. The complaints, filed by TMC's joint national secretary Dola Sen, came a day after the party's 'Kalighat wing' had approached the Pragati Maidan and New Town police with similar allegations against the breakaway camp. The move marks a sharp escalation in the month-long struggle within the party following the assembly poll debacle, with both camps now increasingly relying on legal and organisational measures to establish their claim over the party's legacy and structure. In the latest complaints at Kalighat police station and Kolkata Police's Cyber Crime division, the Mamata Banerjee loyalists named Ritabrata Banerjee, former minister Arup Roy, Javed Khan, Sandipan Saha and Biplab Mitra, alleging that they were attempting to run a parallel organisation by pr…

Rebel TMC bloc takes over state party office; Mamata faction lodges ... A day after the rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) faction met the Election Commission of India (ECI) in New Delhi, the bloc, led by Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Ritabrata Banerjee, took possession of the state party office in Kolkata, claiming they are the “real Trinamool”. They also changed the locks and hung a banner in front of the office mentioning Arup Roy as the party chairman instead of Mamata Banerjee. The building has served as the party office since 2022, when the TMC shifted there after its original office adjacent to the EM Bypass was taken up for reconstruction. By moving into the premises, the dissidents sought to reinforce their claim to organisational legitimacy amid an escalating battle with the Mamata Banerjee-led faction. Accompanied by senior leaders, including Firhad Hakim, Javed Khan, Sandipan Saha and Akhruzzaman, Ritabrata visited the office and held a meeting there. At the time, Mamata-led faction leader and former minister Chandrima Bhattacharya was there but after Ritabrata and others entered the premises, she left. “We are the real Trinamool Congress and this o…

TMC rebellion: Expelled leader Ritabrata claims support of 58 MLAs ... Home Politics TMC rebellion: Expelled leader Ritabrata claims support of 58 MLAs, opposes party's... Politics TMC rebellion: Expelled leader Ritabrata claims support of 58 MLAs, opposes party’s choice of LoP With 58 MLAs, the grouping would cross 2/3rd mark required under anti-defection law, potentially leading to a formal split and raising possibility of a Maharashtra-style realignment. ANI 03 June, 2026 05:58 pm IST Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Linkedin Trinamool Congress MLA Ritabrata Banerjee leaves from Vidhan Sabha, in Kolkata on Wednesday. | ANI Photo Follow Us : Text Size: A- A+ Kolkata: The internal crisis within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) deepened on Wednesday as a group of rebel MLAs, including expelled party leaders Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, claimed the backing of 58 legislators in the West Bengal Assembly and rejected the party leadership’s choice, Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, for the post of Leader of Opposition (LoP). The letter submitted to the Speaker Rathindranath Bose demands the LoP position for Ritabrata Banerjee and also claims the post of Chief Whip for the faction. Sandipan Saha. …

'We are the TMC': Ritabrata faction 'takes over' Trinamool Bhavan ... © Copyright 2026 The Week Online. All rights reserved. This comes a day after the Ritabrata-led rebel bloc staked claim as the 'real TMC' in a meeting with Election Commission officials on July 2 Ashwin Somanath Updated- July 03, 2026 10:47 PM IST 2 minuteRead Link Copied Rebel TMC faction 'took over' the Metropolitan office on Friday Rebel bloc met the full Election Commission bench on Thursday Both rival party factions must justify organisational control by July 6 In a fresh twist in the battle for control between factions of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Ritabrata side on Friday "took over" the party's office in Metropolitan, Kolkata. Joined by senior leaders such as Firhad Hakim, Javed Khan, Sandipan Saha, and Akhruzzaman, members of the rebel bloc visited the party office and held a meeting there. "We are the Trinamool Congress and this office belongs to the Trinamool Congress. There is an emotional connection between the party and this office," Akhruzzaman said at the meeting, as per aPTIreport. He added that the rebel leaders had spoken to the landlord of Trinamool Bhavan about rent-relate…

From 'Mamata Didi's Fiercest Shield' to Rebel: Saayoni Ghosh's Shocking ... Updated 10 June 2026 at 14:47 IST Saayoni Ghosh, once Mamata Banerjee’s fiercest loyalist, has reportedly joined the Trinamool rebel camp, deepening the party’s biggest crisis in decades. info desk India News 3 min read Follow : From ‘Mamata Didi’s Fiercest Shield’ to Rebel: Saayoni Ghosh’s Shocking U‑Turn Leaves TMC in Tatters | Image: ANI In a stunning political betrayal that has sent shockwaves through West Bengal's political circles, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saayoni Ghosh has reportedly jumped ship to join the rebel faction actively trying to dismantle Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's absolute control over the party. For years, the Jadavpur MP and former actress was celebrated as one of Mamata Banerjee’s most fiercely loyal street fighters. Saayoni famously went to extreme lengths during high-stakes election campaigns to defend her party chief, once passionately declaring that she would "never, ever leave Mamata Didi," and positioning the TMC supremo as the ultimate savior of Bengal. Today, that fierce defense has disintegrated into open rebellion. According to rapidly emerging politica…

TMC split deepens: Mamata, rebels take fight over party control to ... The crisis within the Trinamool Congress has now reached the Election Commission (EC), with rival factions trading claims and counterclaims over the party's leadership and legitimacy TMC camp led byMamata Banerjeeand a rebel bloc led by West Bengal leader of the opposition in state assembly,Ritabrata Banerjeefiled competing national working committee lists with the poll panel. This is basically a formal route in the dispute over the party’s name, assets, and election symbol. The rebel group’s MLAs visited the West Bengal chief electoral officer on Tuesday evening to submit a letter demanding recognition as the official All IndiaTrinamool Congressand rights to the twin-flower election symbol. “I cannot comment on the letter they submitted to the EC but by now people have seen that every time they form a new committee the members resign and leave. I can say for sure that the majority of the TMC MLAs are with us," Ritabrata said. Earlier, Mamata Banerjee’s camp sent a revised list to the ECI on Monday night, marked “as on June 20, 2026,” retaining her as chairperson andAbhishek Banerjeeas national general sec…

Upendra Kushwaha's Family Power Play Pays Off: Four MLAs, a Minister ... Patna : Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief Upendra Kushwaha may have lost the Karakat Lok Sabha seat , but in the Bihar Assembly elections he has staged a quiet comeback — and this time, the rewards landed squarely within his family. Four out of six candidates fielded by Kushwaha’s party RLMO won their seats, including his wife, Snehlata Kushwaha . One more MLA emerged via Kushwaha’s strategy of placing his loyalist Pappu Verma on the JDU symbol , giving him a total of five legislators across parties. But the biggest win came with the appointment of his son, Deepak Prakash , as a minister in Nitish Kumar’s cabinet . Deepak is not yet an MLA or MLC, meaning the ministerial berth effectively guarantees him a Legislative Council seat , consolidating the family’s long-term political foothold. From dissent to dominance Kushwaha had earlier triggered unease within the NDA by claiming “nothing is right this time” over seat-sharing, especially after the Mahua seat went to the LJP. The BJP rushed to contain the crisis, with senior leader Nityanand Rai flying him to Delhi overnight. The memory of Kushwaha’s Lok Sabha def…

"I am sad": TMC MP Saugata Roy voices anguish at party ... - Dailyhunt K olkata (West Bengal) [India], June 13 (ANI): The internal crisis within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) deepened further, with senior party leader Saugata Roy on Friday expressing his personal anguish as a wave of desertions continues to hit the party while arriving at Mamata Banerjee's residence for a high-level party. Advertisement The leader said, "I am sad," in response to questions about fellow MPs Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Satabdi Roy engaging in formal talks with Union Minister Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi. Meanwhile, on Friday, senior party MP Saugata Roy slammed the trend of rebel leaders jumping ship, terming the inclination to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as "unethical". Speaking to ANI here, Roy voiced his concerns over the shifting allegiances of party members, particularly in the wake of recent electoral setbacks in the 2026 state assembly election that have left the party's future in West Bengal in a state of flux. "In my view, switching parties or talking about joining the NDA so soon is unethical," Roy said. Roy also addressed the brewing internal conflict between party colleagues, …

GK Vasan's TMC To Exit NDA? Possible Political Shift In Tamil ... G. K. Vasan’s Tamil Maanila Congress is weighing its future in the NDA after an emergency Chennai meeting. Internal dissatisfaction over alliance issues and electoral setbacks has fueled speculation of a major political shift in Tamil Nadu. G.K. Vasan’s Tamil Maanila Congress is weighing its future in the NDA. (Photo: X/@GK__Vasan) Political circles in Tamil Nadu are abuzz after the G.K Vasan-led Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) held an emergency state executive committee meeting in Chennai, creating speculation over its future in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). While no official withdrawal has been announced, discussions within the party show that its alliance with the BJP-led front is under serious review. According to party insiders, growing dissatisfaction over seat-sharing arrangements and lack of political importance within the alliance have triggered internal debates. Leaders reportedly feel that TMC has not been given fair opportunities despite being part of the NDA for several election cycles. The emergency meeting, chaired by Vasan, was attended by senior leaders and district secretaries from acros…

TMC rebel leaders list: From Sushmita Dev to others,… - inkl Amid fresh setbacks for the Trinamool Congress, Rajya Sabha MP Prakash Chik Baraik resigned on Thursday, a day after fellow party MP Sushmita Dev stepped down from the Upper House. Adding to the political churn, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee met Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi at 10 Janpath in New Delhi on Wednesday. The meeting has drawn attention amid speculation over coordination within the INDIA bloc and growing internal strain within the TMC. Further deepening the crisis, senior TMC leader Sukhendu Sekhar Ray resigned from the Rajya Sabha and the party's primary membership, criticising the party's performance in the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections. He described the verdict as an outcome of "15 years of anarchical rule" by the Mamata Banerjee-led government. In another sign of internal fragmentation, rebel TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar confirmed that a group of 20 MPs has formally sought separate seating arrangements in the Lok Sabha, signalling an organisational split within the party's parliamentary ranks. Meanwhile, reports of rebel TMC MPs meeting Union Minister Bhupender Yad…

Opposition MPs also voted for Radhakrishnan listening to their ... NEW DELHI: The BJP on Tuesday hailed NDA candidate C P Radhakrishnan’s election as the 15th Vice President of India and said the poll outcome was an indication of his wider acceptance as several MPs from the opposition camp also voted for him after "listening to their conscience”. Radhakrishnan secured 452 votes against the joint opposition candidate B Sudershan Reddy's 300, winning the contest with a bigger-than-expected margin, indicating cross-voting from the rival camp. Expressing gratitude towards all those who voted for Radhakrishnan, BJP chief whip in the Lok Sabha, Sanjay Jaiswal, said the NDA nominee won the vice presidential election by bagging 452 votes because he received support from some opposition MPs also. “About 40 MPs” belonging to the opposition camp supported the NDA’s vice presidential candidate Radhakrishnan, “listening to their conscience”, he said. “We express gratitude towards them also,” he told PTI Videos in the Parliament House Complex. The BJP MP also hailed the prime minister’s leadership for the NDA’s decision to nominate Radhakrishnan for the vice presidential polls. “Whatever …

After the poll debacle, the revolt: How Mamata is losing control of her TMC Report TMC rebels have captured the party’s legislative wing within a month of the party losing power. “In nightmares and terror, you protected me on your lap, you affectionate mother…” Ritabrata Banerjee was passionatelyrecitingthe full version of Rabindranath Tagore's Jana Gana Mana on March 9 when Mamata Banerjee abruptly cut him short. Then a Rajya Sabha MP of Mamata’s Trinamool Congress (TMC), he was on the dais of her demonstration in Kolkata protesting the Special Intensive Revision of the voter roll. He loves torecitelong poems and to intersperse poetry with political rhetoric in his speeches. That time, the party chief got impatient. “Ritabrata, give culture a break and focus on your subject, which is the SIR,” she told him. He obliged. He never had much of a say in the party in any case. Now, in less than three months, he has spread terror among the party top brass and turned her life into a nightmare. In a chain of developments that bewildered politicians and political observers alike, Ritabrata, now an MLA in the West Bengal assembly, hijacked TMC’s legislative team from Mamata, who founded…

Mamata Banerjee removed as party chief by Ritabrata-led rebels in ... In another major jolt to the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, the rebel party MLAs, led by Ritabrata Banerjee, held a meeting at a private hotel in Kolkata on Monday and named senior MLA Arup Roy as the chairperson of what they described as the “real TMC”. With the decision, the rebels claimed to have removed Mamata as the TMC chairperson, even as her loyalists maintained she was their party chief. Around 4 pm on Monday, a section of the rebel TMC MLAs and councilors of various municipalities held a “special session of the All India Trinamool Congress”. About 40 councillors fromKolkata, Baharampur, Uttarpara, Sreerampur and Dumdum, participated in the meeting. A 30-member national working committee, including four vice-presidents and four general secretaries, was formed after the meeting. Addressing a press conference, Ritabarata said: “We have held a special session today (Monday) and delegates have elected the national working committee. Arup Roy, one of the senior party leaders, has been elected as chairperson. He was with the party from the beginning; 29 other members have been elected in the comm…

Dissent brews in Upendra Kushwaha's RLM after son Deepak inducted as ... ET Bureau Barely a month after the NDA's victory in Bihar, ally Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief Upendra Kushwaha is facing internal rumblings after inducting his son Deepak Prakash as a minister in the state cabinet. The RLM won four Assembly seats, including one held by Kushwaha's wife Snehlata Kushwaha. Prakash is not currently a member of either House. Sources say the party's other three MLAs are unhappy with the move. In an earlier post on X, Kushwaha defended his decision, saying he wanted to protect the party's unity - recalling that two of his MPs had quit ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls despite earlier wins. Tensions escalated after Bajpatti MLA Rameshwar Mahto posted a veiled criticism on social media on December 12. Later, three MLAs - Mahto, Madhaw Anand and Alok Singh - skipped a dinner meeting called by Kushwaha on December 24 and instead met BJP working president Nitin Nabin in Delhi the same day, fuelling speculation of a possible shift to the BJP or JD(U). With cabinet expansion due after January 14, the developments are being viewed as pressure tactics. Add as a Reliable and Trusted News S…

64 Trinamool Congress MLAs Back Mamata Banerjee But Refuse To Accept ... A significant political development appears to be unfolding within the Trinamool Congress, with reports suggesting that a large group of newly elected legislators has openly challenged the leadership role of Abhishek Banerjee while reaffirming its support for party supremo Mamata Banerjee. The development, if confirmed, could mark one of the most serious internal challenges faced by the party in recent years and may reshape the political dynamics within the organization. According to emerging reports, Ritabrata Banerjee has been chosen as the Leader of the Opposition, while Akhruzzaman has been appointed Chief Whip. The appointments are being viewed as part of a broader realignment within the party's legislative wing following recent political developments. The move has fueled speculation that a distinct bloc is beginning to assert itself within the Trinamool Congress. Political observers say the significance of these appointments lies not only in the positions themselves but also in the message they send regarding the balance of power within the party. ALSO READ:PM Expresses Grief Over Malviya Nagar Fire…

Signalling dramatic split in Trinamool Congress, 58 rebel MLAs break ... Media personnel gather outside the West Bengal Legislative Assembly after 58 dissident TMC MLAs led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee meets Speaker Rathindra Bose, unseen, in Kolkata, West Bengal, on Wednesday | Photo Credit: Swapan Mahapatra In a major jolt to the Trinamool Congress founder and supremo Mamata Banerjee, Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, two expelled TMC MLAs, on Wednesday claimed support of at least 58 MLAs, over two-third of the party’s newly-elected legislators, signalling a dramatic split in the nearly three-decade old party. After a meeting with the group of rebel TMC legislators at the West Bengal Assembly, Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha met the Speaker, Rathindra Bose, and submitted a letter claiming the support of at least 58 MLAs. The letter proposes first-time MLA Ritabrata’s name for the post of Leader of the Opposition. The rebel MLAs reportedly claimed that they constitute the “real” Trinamool Congress. The Speaker later admitted Ritabrata Banerjee's claim and recognised him as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the…

TMC crisis live updates: Trinamool not merging with Congress, says ... Trinamool Congress's Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien dismissed all the speculation of the party merging with the Congress. "Let me put an end to this fake news about the AITC merging with any other party. Baseless. Yes, that’s the perfect word used by my friend KC Venugopal: TMC National Joint Secretary Derek O'Brien," said Derek O'Brien. (With inputs from PTI) As CID served back-to-back notices to Trinamool Congress's national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, Riju Dutta, the suspended national spokesperson of the party took a jibe at the leader."As you sow, so shall you reap. The CID has now served them notices for forging signatures and delivering inflammatory speeches. Following this, the ED summoned them on the 14th, 15th, and 16th for three consecutive days. The Salboni police also arrested former TMC MLA Sujoy Hazra last night... Now it remains to be seen what steps Bengal Police, CID and ED will take. From the situation, it appears that the Prince’s difficult days are near," he told ANI. Satabdi Roy, the rebel Trinamool Congress MP, who accompanied Sudip Bandopadhyay, a close aide of Mamata Banerje…

TMC Rebellion Updates: Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari meets rebel TMC MPs ... In a significant political realignment, nearly 20 Trinamool Congress (TMC) Members of Parliament have formally signalled their desire to break away from their party's current political trajectory and align with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Rebel TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar on Monday confirmed the development. "A total of 20 TMC Members of Parliament have formally addressed a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, expressing their desire to extend support to the NDA, signalling a potential shift in the political landscape of West Bengal and national parliamentary dynamics," Dastidar said. The development comes amid intensifying internal turmoil following the party's defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections, which saw the state elect its first BJP government under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The political rift was starkly visible today as Mamata Banerjee arrived in New Delhi for an INDIA bloc meeting at the Constitution Club. While Banerjee, national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, and other loyalist senior leaders attended the opposition conclave, a s…

Defected MPs 'gaddar team', TMC is led by Mamata: Saugata Roy He said the Trinamool Congress secured nearly 41% of the votes in West Bengal in the recent Assembly elections despite what he described as attempts by the BJP to misuse central agencies

Mamata's decision not to quit part of her protest against Centre, EC: Raut Sanjay Raut of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) on Wednesday came out in support of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s decision not to resign after her party’s defeat in the assembly elections, describing it as part of a larger “agitation” against the Centre and the Election Commission of India. Speaking to reporters, Raut said Banerjee’s refusal to step down was a political message against what he termed the “dictatorship of the Centre” and the “partisan behaviour” of the poll body. “Mamata Banerjee not resigning is part of her protest against the government, the Election Commission and a series of acts against democracy,” he said, adding that it remains to be seen how the agitation unfolds. He stressed the need for Opposition unity, arguing that parties must come together to counter what he alleged was a systematic erosion of democratic institutions. “We have to unite if we want to fight the dictatorship of the Centre and the way the EC is functioning like a slave of the government,” Raut said. The remarks come a day after Banerjee rejected the West Bengal election verdict as “engi…

Trouble mounts for Mamata as 23 TMC MPs in touch with rebel MLAs' camp ... Politicalturmoil within the Trinamool Congress (TMC)now appears to be spilling beyond West Bengal and into Parliament, with sources tellingIndia Today TVthat as many as 23 MPs are in touch with a rebel group of MLAs and that a split in the party’s parliamentary wing cannot be ruled out in the coming days. The fresh signs of further crisis come amid adeepening internal turbulence in the Mamata Banerjee-led partyafter a major rebellion in theWest BengalAssembly, where a large section of MLAs recently broke away from the party’s legislative fold under theleadership of Ritabrata Banerjeeandstaked claim to the post of Leader of Oppositionin the House. According to sources, discontent is now brewing among TMC MPs as well, with several parliamentarians reportedly unhappy with party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. The growing unease within the leadership ranks is said to have triggered discussions on forming a separate bloc in Parliament. Sources said a section of Lok Sabha MPs is actively exploring the possibility of creating a breakaway group, with more than a dozen MPs already said to be in favour of suc…

TMC rebel leaders list: From Sushmita Dev to others, check leaders ... Listen to this article in summarized format Listen Loading... × × Subscribe to Unlock AI Briefing and Premium Content New Year Offer 24 Hours Left Subscribe Now Already a member? Sign In What's Included Exclusive Stories Daily ePaper Access Smart Market Tools Curated Investment Ideas Ad-lite Experience Subscription Agencies The Trinamool Congress is facing what could be the biggest crisis in its 28-year history Amid fresh setbacks for the Trinamool Congress, Rajya Sabha MP Prakash Chik Baraik resigned on Thursday, a day after fellow party MP Sushmita Dev stepped down from the Upper House. Adding to the political churn, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee met Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi at 10 Janpath in New Delhi on Wednesday. The meeting has drawn attention amid speculation over coordination within the INDIA bloc and growing internal strain within the TMC. Further deepening the crisis, senior TMC leader Sukhendu Sekhar Ray resigned from the Rajya Sabha and the party's primary membership, criticising the party's performance in the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections. He described the…

RJD announces candidates in three seats, faces internal revolt Onmanorama Staff Published: March 18, 2026 02:19 PM ISTUpdated: March 18, 2026 02:26 PM IST 2 minuteRead Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has announced candidates for three Kerala Assembly constituencies: Koothuparamba, Vatakara, and Kalpetta. The LDF declined the RJD's request for three additional seats, including Koduvalli, Kovalam, and Chalakudy. Tensions between RJD and its ally CPM, stemming from poor local election performance and alleged CPM interference, are raising concerns about RJD's poll prospects. Link Copied Kozhikode: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Wednesday announced its candidates for three constituencies in the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections, even as the party grapples with an internal crisis and growing dissent against the leadership. State president M V Sreyams Kumar declared the candidates for Koothuparamba, Vadakara, and Kalpetta. P K Praveen will contest from Koothuparamba in Kannur district, M K Bhaskaran from Vatakara in Kozhikode, and P K Anilkumar from Kalpetta in Wayanad. Soon after the announcement, state secretary general Sabah Pulppatta strongly criticised the decision to contes…

TMC fault lines in the open: 58 of 80 MLAs back rebel as Leader of ... The divide in the Trinamool Congress (TMC) was out in the open Wednesday after a group of60 rebel MLAs seized control of its legislature party in West Bengal, elected expelled legislatorRitabrata Banerjee as the Leader of Opposition (LoP), and secured recognition from the Assembly Speaker. This effectively takes away the control of the TMC legislature party from party chairperson and former CM Mamata Banerjee, though the rebels, in a letter to Speaker Rathindra Bose that was signed by 58 MLAs, recognised her as their overall leader. The new LoP also sought to temper the situation by urging Mamata to serve as chief adviser to the newly constituted legislature team. The rebels made it clear that while they had no problem with Mamata’s leadership, they had nothing to do with her nephew and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee. “We are representing Trinamool Congress in the Assembly. We are a bloc of 60 MLAs. We request Mamata Banerjee to be our adviser and guide us. We will play the role of a constructive Opposition,” Ritabrata said. While there was no response from the former CM, the TMC’s organisational comma…