Sukhendu Sekhar Ray resigns from TMC, Rajya Sabha in blow to Mamata

In a significant blow to Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, veteran party leader Sukhendu Sekhar Ray on Monday (June 8) resigned from both the party and his position in the Rajya Sabha.

The resignation comes as TMC is grappling with mounting internal unrest, with signs of a widening rebellion that has raised concerns about a possible split within the party. The crisis has intensified in the aftermath of the party's defeat in the West Bengal Assembly election to the BJP.

Ray arrived at Parliament on Monday morning to formally submit his resignation. His departure coincides with Banerjee's visit to New Delhi, where she is attending a meeting of leaders from the opposition INDIA alliance.

A trusted associate of Banerjee for years, Ray remained one of her closest allies through major battles and turning points, including TMC's rise to power in West Bengal in 2011.

Accuses TMC of ‘anarchical rule’

In his resignation letter, Ray launched a sharp attack on the TMC leadership, attributing the party's crushing defeat to what he described as years of misgovernance.

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According to Ray, the electoral verdict reflected public anger against what he called the party's "15-year anarchical rule", alleging that the government had been marked by rampant corruption, crimes against women, and failures across key sectors including healthcare, education, industry, law and order, and employment.

"In the recently held election to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, the people have given huge mandate in favour of the Bhartiya Janata Party for the first time in the history of the state to put an end to 15-year anarchical rule of the Trinamool Congress arising out of widespread unbridled corruption, atrocities committed against women, abysmal failure in the field of health, education, industry, law and order, employment, etc," he stated.

Backs BJP government

Ray also expressed support for the newly formed BJP government, saying it had already begun implementing measures aimed at the state's development in line with its electoral promises.

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"Meanwhile, the newly elected people's government has started taking initiatives for overall development and reconstruction of West Bengal as per its Election Manifesto. In respectful acceptance of this historic verdict of the people, I have resigned today from the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) as a member and also from the primary membership of the All India Trinamool Congress," he added.

Ray's resignation accepted

Later in the day, Rajya Sabha chairman C P Radhakrishnan accepted Ray's resignation from the Upper House and declared the seat vacant.

Ray had earlier met the chairman and handed over his resignation to him. "Shri Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, an elected Member of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha), representing the State of West Bengal, resigned his seat in the Rajya Sabha and his resignation has been accepted by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha w.e.f. 8 June, 2026," a notification from the Rajya Sabha secretariat said, announcing the vacancy of the seat.

"I have met Rajya Sabha chairman and submitted my resignation. I have conveyed my decision to resigning from the party through WhatsApp and email to Mamata Banerjee," Ray earlier said.

"I had my tenure till 2029 in the Rajya Sabha, but I have resigned in principle from the party as it would be difficult for me to continue," he told reporters.

Split speculation grows

Ray's exit comes at a time when speculation continues to swirl over a possible breakaway group within the TMC, with reports suggesting that as many as 20 Lok Sabha MPs could distance themselves from the party. The uncertainty follows the rebellion spearheaded by expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee in the West Bengal Assembly.

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Banerjee, who was removed from the party over alleged anti-party activities, went on to establish a separate bloc in the Assembly with the backing of 58 legislators. He was subsequently chosen as the Leader of the Opposition, replacing Sobhandev Chattopadhyay.

The faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee has repeatedly targeted the leadership of Abhishek Banerjee, blaming him for the party's poor showing in the recently concluded Assembly elections.

(With agency inputs)