Mamata loyalist Chandrima Bhattacharya resigned as Trinamool Congress Bengal state president

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya (left) and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. File

Former West Bengal Finance Minister and Mamata Banerjee loyalist Chandrima Bhattacharya on Saturday (July 4, 2026) resigned from all Trinamool Congress posts, hinting that she has aligned herself with the rebel camp led by Opposition Leader Ritabrata Banerjee.

Ms. Bhattacharya, who has remained with the party president for the past several decades, sent a letter to Ms. Banerjee announcing her resignation as the head of the party’s state unit.

At a time of shifting political loyalties in West Bengal, Ms Bhattacharya’s resignation is yet another setback for Ms Banerjee, who has only a handful of loyalists left.

Also read | The Trinamool fight escalates as the Ritabrata-led camp “takes control” of the party headquarters

Ms Bhattacharya said that after the MLAs of the rebel faction of the party took over the Trinamool Congress party office on Friday, the former chief minister called and accused her of allowing the rebels to take over the party.

“I was deeply hurt when she (Mamata Banerjee) called me that I had handed over the party office to them (rebels), though I don’t know how I did it. It is evident that my loyalty and credibility has been shaken from its roots. This has never happened in the past. Once these basic binding forces are gone, there is no reason for me to stay in the party or come back,” Bhattachary said.

Ms Bhattacharya, a three-time state MLA, was defeated by Sourav Sikdar of the BJP from the Dum Dum Uttar constituency in the recently concluded assembly elections. He joins a long list of Mamata Banerjee loyalists like former minister Firhad Hakim and several MPs who have decided to switch loyalties.

While the former finance minister of state did not criticize Ms Banerjee, Ms Bhattacharya said she was not consulted on important decisions in the previous regime, including the preparation of the state budget.

Ms. Bhattacharya was also an authorized signatory of the Trinamool Congress before the Election Commission of India (ECI). Mamata Banerjee loyalists have shared a letter to the ECI secretary written by the party president dated June 15, stating that the two persons who will interact with the commission are Abhishek Banerjee and Derek O’ Brien.

After resigning from all Trinamool Congress posts, Ms. Bhattacharya went to the State Assembly and met Ritabrata Banerjee and other rebel MLAs. Although the former minister did not say that she joined the rebel camp, her actions suggest that she has joined them.

“There is a tendency in a private limited company (referring to the Mamata Banerjee-led party) to insult its employees… Whatever is the experience of all of us, Chandrima di (Bhattacharya) has a similar experience,” said Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee.

Published – 04 Jul 2026 14:46 IST