Some rebel Trinamool MLAs want Mamata as a top leader, not an adviser
TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee. File. | Photo credit: PTI
A day after 58 Trinamool Congress MLAs signed a letter nominating expelled party lawmaker Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Assembly, defying party president Mamata Banerjee, some of the rebel MLAs were on Thursday (June 4, 2026) seen warming up to the former chief minister.
About 20 rebel MLAs met in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly and several of them said Ms Banerjee remained their “supreme leader”.
Speaking to the media after the LoP was appointed, Mr Ritabrata said on Wednesday (June 3, 2026) that he wanted Ms Banerjee as the Trinamool Congress Legislature Party’s “principal adviser”.
“Mamata Banerjee is a supreme leader, not an adviser,” said Trinamool MLA from Panchla, Gulshan Mullick.
Sangita Roy Basunia, Trinamool MLA from Sitai, spoke in similar vein and said that Ms. Banerjee remains the undisputed leader of the party.
The rebel Trinamool camp chose a relatively young LoP in Mr Ritabrata – who rose as a student leader of the Students Federation of India, the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) – over ten-time MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, 82. A letter appointing Mr Chattopadhyay as Speaker of West0 on May2 was tabled at the BenLA Speaker of West0 assembly. Mr. Ritabarta and Sandipan Saha alleged that their signatures were forged after which they were expelled from the party.
The FIR was registered on the complaint of the expelled MLAs and the investigation reached the doorstep of Trinamool general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who signed the letter.
“The idea of Trinamool Congress without Mamata Banerjee is not feasible. The rebellion is more focused on Abhishek Banerjee than Mamata Banerjee,” said a senior Trinamool Congress leader.
Ms. Banerjee loyalist and Beleghata MLA Kunal Ghosh raised questions as to why the letter submitted in favor of Mr. Ritabrat to the speaker with the signatures of 58 MLAs was not displayed.
“Those who went beyond the party’s decision and wrote a letter to the president and took the leader of the opposition with them – where is the letter presented by those who worship transparency? Why is it not coming? Why is the list of signatories kept secret? What is all this concealment,” he asked.
Deputies joined together
While the split in the Trinamool legislature has come to light, there is no sign of a split among the MPs. Trinamool is the second largest opposition party with 42 MPs in both houses of Parliament.
Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra pointed out that rebel MLAs had won their seats entirely under the leadership and name of Ms Banerjee, securing votes that were against the BJP. She noted that Trinamool got 41% votes under the party symbol.
Ms. Moitra questioned the demand of independence raised by the rebel MLAs and said they cannot claim to be free. She urged them to resign their seats and contest the elections fresh under what she mockingly called the “Bijemool (half BJP and half Trinamool)” symbol.
Ms Banerjee has remained silent on the rebellion in the Trinamool legislature. She met Mr. Abhishek on Wednesday (June 3, 2026) and visited the Kalighat temple on Thursday (June 3, 2026).
Published – 04 Jun 2026 22:58 IST