What Led to Manas Bhunia's Departure from Trinamool Congress? A Political Shift in West Bengal

In a surprising move, Manas Bhunia, a former minister in West Bengal's TMC government, has resigned from the party, intensifying the ongoing crisis within its ranks. Having previously served as a senior Congress leader, Bhunia's departure raises questions about his future political plans, including a potential shift to the BJP. Despite recent electoral setbacks, he remains committed to serving the people of Sabang. This article delves into the implications of his resignation and what it means for West Bengal's political landscape.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 13, 2026, 22:24 IST

Manas Bhunia Resigns from Trinamool Congress Amidst Party Turmoil

Kolkata: Manas Bhunia, a former minister in the Mamata Banerjee administration in West Bengal, has officially stepped down from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday, further intensifying the challenges faced by the party following its recent electoral defeat.

In a statement to the media, Bhunia confirmed that he had submitted his resignation letter to party leader Mamata Banerjee, relinquishing all his roles within the organization, including his membership.

Bhunia, who previously served as a senior Congress figure before joining TMC in 2016, has been elected as an MLA from the Sabang constituency in Paschim Medinipur district seven times, having secured six victories as a Congress candidate.

He expressed his commitment to continue serving the people of Sabang and West Bengal, stating, "A politician remains a politician until the end. I will dedicate myself to the welfare of my constituency until my last breath," while choosing not to elaborate on his reasons for leaving the TMC.

When questioned about a potential shift to the BJP, he remarked, "I haven't thought about that yet. I will make a decision later."

Despite winning the Sabang seat in the 2021 elections on a TMC ticket, Bhunia faced a setback in the 2026 elections, losing to BJP's Amal Kumar Panda by over 11,000 votes.

He also ran for the Medinipur parliamentary seat in 2019 but was defeated by Dilip Ghosh, the then-president of the BJP's West Bengal unit.

Bhunia served as a Rajya Sabha MP for TMC until 2021 and was later assigned responsibilities for the Irrigation and Waterways, Small and Micro Industries, and Textile departments in Mamata Banerjee's cabinet.