Is TMC headed for a split? Expulsions, MLAs’ absence from meet fuel speculation

Speculation of a major split in the Trinamool Congress gathered pace on Tuesday (June 2) as signs of an internal revolt emerged within the party’s legislative ranks, plunging the party into its most serious bout of internal turbulence since it moved into the Opposition. The developments have raised questions whether the Opposition party is headed for a rebellion akin to the Shiv Sena split in Maharashtra.

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The buzz grew louder after a majority of TMC MLAs skipped a key legislative party meeting, two legislators were expelled for alleged anti-party activities, and claims surfaced that a group of lawmakers was exploring the possibility of forming a separate faction. With the TMC not outright dismissing the speculations of a split, the rapidly escalating turmoil has raised questions on Mamata Banerjee’s ability to keep her flock together.

Sobhandeb puts up brave face

Senior TMC leader Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay asserted to news agency PTI that the “majority of the party MLAs” would remain with Mamata and said the party’s old guard would continue to retain control of the organisation.

The senior leader alleged that attempts were being made by the ruling dispensation to engineer defections and destabilise the party, but maintained that the TMC remained united.

“There may be a few who succumb to pressure, but there is no fear that a large rebellion will take place. The majority of MLAs will remain with Mamata Banerjee, and the old guard will continue to be firmly in control of the Trinamool Congress. The twin-flower symbol (jora ghas phool) will remain with Mamata Banerjee,” he asserted.

Signs of brewing rebellion

Talk of a split within the TMC intensified after a key legislative party meeting called by the leadership failed to draw a majority of the party MLAs on Sunday. Of the party’s 80 legislators, 61 stayed away from the meeting, forcing its postponement and fuelling talk of growing discontent within the ranks.

The developments gained traction on Monday after the TMC expelled Uluberia Purba MLA Ritabrata Banerjee and Entally MLA Sandipan Saha. The move came amid reports that the two leaders had held a series of meetings with around 50 party legislators at a hotel near the EM Bypass, fuelling suspicions of an organised revolt within the party.

While the party cited its decision to write to Speaker Rathindra Bose without informing the leadership, party insiders suggested deeper concerns. “They are in touch with a number of MLAs and are trying to break the party,” a TMC leader told The Telegraph.

Separate faction on its way?

A breakaway group would require the support of at least two-thirds of the party’s MLAs – 53 in the TMC’s case – to avoid disqualification under anti-defection provisions. Party insiders claimed the dissident camp was in touch with more than 50 legislators.

Adding to the speculation, suspended TMC leader Riju Dutta claimed that more than 50 MLAs had met at a Kolkata hotel and were considering forming a separate faction. Speaking to News18 Hindi, Dutta alleged that the group planned to project itself as the “real Trinamool” and seek changes to the party's leadership in the Assembly.

Dutta further claimed that several TMC MPs were also exploring a move to the BJP and alleged that the rebel legislators were considering launching a separate outfit under the banner of “Asli Trinamool”.

Amid these developments, another layer of political churn emerged over the choice of Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly. Sources told NDTV that a section of TMC MLAs is considering backing Ritabrata Banerjee for the post of Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, in a move that could directly challenge the party leadership.

Forgery row deepens crisis

The turmoil has been further fuelled by a dispute over signatures on a resolution backing Sobhandeb for the post of Leader of the Opposition and a CID probe that has reached the doorstep of the party leadership.

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Ritabrata and Sandipan alleged that 14 signatures on the document submitted to the Assembly were forged. They also claimed that no resolution backing Sobhandeb had been adopted at the TMC legislature party meeting on May 6 and that some legislators were later asked to sign a fabricated document.

Confirming the complaint on Monday, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the Assembly Secretariat had lodged an FIR on the Speaker's behalf, following which a CID probe was ordered. Rejecting allegations of political vendetta, he said the investigation stemmed from complaints filed by TMC legislators themselves.

The controversy has since widened, with the CID summoning TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and seeking the original resolution book submitted to the Assembly. According to the agency, Abhishek has sought two weeks’ time to appear, citing health reasons.

Adhikari also claimed that investigators had spoken to several legislators whose signatures appeared on the resolution and that some had denied signing the document. The allegations have further deepened the crisis within the TMC, with the controversy likely to remain in focus ahead of the Assembly’s budget session later this month.

Sobhandeb told PTI some people are being compelled to make statements about forged signatures “under intense pressure from the ruling government”. “There are some who are trying to go against the TMC as the ruling party is pumping money. We are constantly keeping an eye on the situation,” he told PTI.

Mamata alleges intimidation bid

As speculation over a split intensified, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP government of trying to weaken her party through intimidation and coercion.

Claiming that several legislators had complained of being pressured and threatened, she alleged that attempts were being made to engineer defections from the party. Banerjee also announced plans to stage a protest in Kolkata, warning that she would take the fight to Delhi if she was denied permission to hold a dharna in the state capital.

In a Facebook Live session, Mamata claimed that at least four TMC MLAs had informed her that they were being threatened by the police and pressured to stay away from party activities. She also alleged that legislators were being pushed to back Ritabrata as part of a larger attempt to engineer a split in the party.

Mamata's claim

Accusing the BJP of using the administrative machinery to destabilise the TMC, Mamata said party representatives were being warned against attending meetings and public programmes. She also linked the alleged attack on Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur to what she described as a broader campaign of intimidation targeting her party.

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Defending the expulsion of Ritabrata and Sandipan, Mamata said the decision was necessary and asserted that personal ambitions could not be allowed to override the interests of the organisation. At the same time, she maintained that the controversy over the Opposition leader’s appointment and the ensuing CID probe would take their legal course.

Reiterating her resolve to fight back, Mamata said she would go ahead with Tuesday’s sit-in protest and warned that if permission was denied in Kolkata, she would raise the issue in Delhi during an upcoming INDIA bloc meeting. “I will not back down,” she said, accusing the BJP of trying to weaken the TMC through fear and coercion.