Mamata Banerjee Takes Charge as TMC President Amid Internal Turmoil
Mamata Banerjee has officially taken over as the president of the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, a move that comes amidst significant internal strife within the party. This decision follows the resignation of Chandrima Bhattacharya and the emergence of a rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, which claims substantial support from party legislators. The new leadership structure aims to stabilize the party, with Banerjee expected to play a mentoring role. The political landscape in West Bengal is shifting, and this development could have far-reaching implications for the TMC's future.
| Jul 4, 2026, 18:40 IST
Mamata Banerjee's New Role in TMC
The leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and former Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, announced on July 4 that she has assumed the role of president of the party's West Bengal unit. Additionally, she has appointed Madan Mitra and Kunal Ghosh as general secretaries within the state committee. In a video message, Banerjee stated, 'As the chairperson of AITC, I declare that I will also take on the responsibilities of the West Bengal state TMC president from today.' Furthermore, two new members, Madan Mitra and Kunal Ghosh, have been included in the committee.
This announcement comes in the wake of internal conflicts within the party and reports suggesting that a rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee has taken control of the party headquarters. During this period, Chandrima Bhattacharya, the president of TMC in West Bengal and a former minister, resigned from all party positions. In her resignation letter addressed to Mamata Banerjee, she mentioned her departure from the state president role, which she was set to hold until June 2026. She also revoked her authorization as a signatory for the party's bank accounts and as Mamata Banerjee's authorized representative before the Election Commission of India.
The resignation coincided with the closure of the Kolkata-based state party office, which was locked from the inside due to reports of the rebel faction's takeover. Ritabrata Banerjee announced the formation of a new leadership structure for the 'All India Trinamool Congress Committee' and appointed Arup Roy as its chairman. He also established a 'National Working Committee' (NWC) comprising 30 members and emphasized that Mamata Banerjee should serve as a mentor within the party.
He revealed that the committee includes leaders such as Farhad Hakim, Arup Biswas, Rathin Ghosh, Sabina Yasmin, Javed Khan, and Sandipan Saha. Among them, Farhad Hakim, Arup Biswas, Rathin Ghosh, and Sabina Yasmin have been designated as vice presidents. Ritabrata Banerjee reiterated the desire for 'Didi' (a term of endearment for Mamata Banerjee) to guide them as a mentor. The rebel faction claims to have the support of at least 58 out of 80 party legislators. They have also formed a 30-member national working committee and stated that Mamata Banerjee should continue her role as a mentor within the party.