Kolkata, June 24, 2026: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra has stirred fresh political discussions in West Bengal after publicly recalling the support she received from Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari during the early stages of her political journey. Her remarks come at a crucial time when the TMC is facing internal challenges, defections, and a growing leadership crisis. Mahua Moitra described her relationship with Suvendu Adhikari as one built on personal respect and emotion

Less than 48 hours after 60 rebel MLAs took control of the Trinamool Congress legislature party by defying party chief Mamata Banerjee, signs of internal trouble have begun to surface within the Ritabrata Banerjee-led camp. The disagreement is centred on Mamata Banerjee’s future role in the party and whether she should remain the supreme leader or be limited to the position of a chief adviser. Ritabrata Banerjee, who has now been recognised as the Leader of the Opposition, had said that the rebel group did not intend to split the Trinamool Congress. In their letter to the Assembly Speaker, the rebel MLAs reportedly mentioned Mamata Banerjee as the party chief. However, Ritabrata’s public suggestion that Mamata should serve as a “chief adviser” to the opposition front has created unease among several MLAs who still owe their political loyalty to her. The rebellion inside the TMC was not entirely directed against Mamata Banerjee herself. According to the developments emerging from the rebel camp, much of the anger among MLAs was aimed at Abhishek Banerjee, Mamata’s nephew and the party’s de facto number two. Several rebel leaders were reportedly unhappy with his leadership style and the growing perception that decision-making within the party had become increasingly centralised around him. The tensions deepened after the controversy known as “Signgate”, in which some Trinamool MLAs alleged that their signatures had been forged in a letter supporting Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of the Opposition. That episode appears to have intensified resentment within the party and pushed several MLAs toward the rebel bloc. However, their rebellion against the current party structure has not translated into a complete rejection of Mamata Banerjee’s leadership. Several MLAs in the Ritabrata-led camp continue to see Mamata as the central figure of the Trinamool Congress. Rebel MLA Gulshan Mullick said that they had been told the party would continue under Mamata’s leadership and that she could not be treated merely as an adviser. He warned that if Mamata was not accepted as the supreme leader, some MLAs might reconsider whether they should remain in the rebel bloc. Sitai MLA Sangeeta Roy Basunia also rejected the idea of Mamata being shifted into an advisory role. She said Mamata Banerjee remained their supreme leader and could not be reduced to an adviser. These statements have exposed the first major challenge for Ritabrata Banerjee after taking charge as Leader of the Opposition. Ritabrata Bloc Faces Its First Big Political Test The dispute highlights the contradiction at the heart of the rebellion. On one hand, the MLAs have challenged the party’s existing leadership structure and defied Mamata Banerjee’s directions. On the other hand, many of them are unwilling to abandon their political and emotional association with the leader who founded the Trinamool Congress after breaking away from the Congress in 1998. This contradiction could become difficult for the rebel bloc to manage. If the group continues to project Mamata as its leader while acting against her instructions, it may struggle to build a clear political identity. At the same time, if Ritabrata attempts to sideline Mamata completely, he risks losing MLAs who joined the rebellion mainly out of anger against Abhishek Banerjee and the internal functioning of the party, not against Mamata herself. The Trinamool Congress has always been closely identified with Mamata Banerjee’s personality, leadership style and mass appeal. Unlike some other regional parties where factional battles are driven by ideology, caste equations or leadership succession, the current TMC crisis appears more rooted in internal control, authority and resentment over the party’s power structure. That makes Mamata’s role even more sensitive. Political observers believe the rebel bloc may face further instability if Ritabrata Banerjee fails to clearly define Mamata Banerjee’s position. If he accepts her as the supreme leader, the rebellion may appear incomplete. If he rejects her authority, the bloc could lose MLAs who still depend on Mamata’s image and legacy for political legitimacy. For now, Mamata Banerjee remains the biggest unifying force within the Trinamool Congress, even among those who have rebelled against the party leadership. The developments show that Ritabrata Banerjee’s biggest challenge may not be defeating the ruling side inside the Assembly, but keeping his own rebel camp together. The coming days will decide whether the bloc survives as a serious political force or begins to break apart under the weight of its own contradictions.

TMC meet cancelled as 60 MLAs skip Mamata Banerjee call Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress faced an uncomfortable moment on Monday after a scheduled meeting of its newly elected MLAs at Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence had to be called off due to poor attendance. Only around 20 of the party’s 80 MLAs reportedly reached the venue, while nearly 60 legislators stayed away a day after TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee was allegedly attacked. The abs

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has firmly rejected calls to resign following the defeat of her party, Trinamool Congress (TMC), in the recent West Bengal Assembly Elections. Despite the electoral setback, Banerjee has declared that she will not step down, describing the demand for her resignation as a "symbolic protest." The TMC leader made these remarks during a closed-door party meeting with senior party leaders and newly elected MLAs on May 6. Banerjee added that she would not

West Bengal continues to grapple with escalating political violence as another life was lost in a targeted attack. Chandra, the personal assistant to BJP’s leader of opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, was shot and killed in what authorities are calling a pre-planned assassination. The incident took place on the evening of [insert date], near Madhyamgram, a locality in West Bengal. According to eyewitness reports, the victim was traveling by car when a bike-borne assailant pulled alongside and shot at him at point-blank range. The assailant, described as an expert, fired two rounds before quickly fleeing the scene, suggesting the attack was meticulously planned. The car’s driver was also injured in the attack. Chandra was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after. Eyewitness Account of the Murder An eyewitness who was near the crime scene described the harrowing moment: "Just as Chandra’s car crossed mine, it suddenly stopped midway, and a bike-borne person came and started shooting on the left side of the car. The person seemed to be an expert and fled immediately. It appeared to be pre-planned. The shots were fired at point-blank range. I heard the sound of two rounds," the eyewitness said. The incident occurred between 10:30 PM and 11 PM, about 200 to 300 meters from a hospital. Political Allegations and Reactions Suvendu Adhikari condemned the attack as "a cold-blooded and pre-planned murder" and reassured his supporters that the perpetrators would be brought to justice. He called for peace among BJP workers in the wake of the incident. Agnimitra Paul, a prominent BJP leader, linked the murder to political motives, suggesting it was a result of the anger within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) following their electoral defeat. “This is perhaps a consequence of Mamata Banerjee’s defeat in Bhabanipur,” Paul said, further noting that CCTV footage from the area was being analyzed to identify the attackers. She also highlighted Chandra’s trusted role within the BJP, adding, “He was like a brother to our MLAs and handled several important responsibilities.” Paul questioned why Chandra, who had no direct political role, was targeted, emphasizing the shock and outrage in the community. She also pointed out a separate incident involving a BJP booth worker who was attacked and hospitalized around the same time. TMC's Response and Call for Investigation Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders condemned the murder but refrained from commenting on any political motives. The TMC has called for a CBI investigation into the killing, urging for a thorough inquiry. However, they did not address the specific allegations made by BJP leaders. Rising Post-Poll Violence in West Bengal The murder of Chandra adds to the growing list of casualties from post-poll violence in West Bengal. Since the state’s recent election results were announced, violence has claimed at least four lives across various regions, including Kolkata, Udaynarayanpur, Nanoor, and Jalpaiguri. The ongoing violence has raised serious concerns over the political climate in the state. As the investigation into Chandra’s murder unfolds, the people of West Bengal and political leaders alike await answers regarding the growing unrest and the political motives behind these violent acts.

Date: May 02, 2026 | Time: 11:06 AM IST | Place: West Bengal, India  

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