Trinamool splits, MLA expelled Ritabrata Banerjee is Leader of Opposition in Bengal Assembly

Expelled Trinamool Congress MLA Ritabrata Banerjee at a press conference on June 3, 2026. | Photo credit: Shiv Sahay Singh

Expelled Trinamool Congress MLA Ritabrata Banerjee was named the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Assembly on Wednesday (June 3, 2026). A letter was presented to West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose, who nominated Mr. Ritabrata LoP, with the support of 58 Trinamool MLAs who nominated MLA Uluberia Purba.

Mr. Ritabrata, who was given the keys to the LoP chamber in the presence of rebel Trinamool MLAs, said, “We have sent a letter signed by 58 MLAs to the Speaker. So far the number is 58 and it may increase in future.”

“We have the support of two-thirds of Trinamool Congress MLAs and as per parliamentary practice we are the real opposition. We will serve as a responsible opposition in the 18th West Bengal Legislative Assembly. We will criticize the government but there will be no opposition for the sake of opposition,” he told a press conference.

Akhruzzaman, an MLA from Raghunathganj in Murshidabad district, has been appointed as Trinamool chief whip. Four rebel MLAs — Javed Khan, Sabina Yasmin, Sandipan Saha and Sheuli Saha — have been appointed deputy leaders in the House.

Addressing Trinamool founder and chairperson Mamata Banerjee, Mr. Ritabrata and Mr. Akhruzzaman said, “We appeal to Mamata Banerjee to remain the chief adviser of the Trinamool Legislature Party.”

An existential crisis

The development poses the biggest existential challenge to the Trinamool, which suffered a loss to the BJP in the recent assembly polls. The Trinamool was reduced to 80 seats, while the BJP won 208 seats in the 294-member House.

Trinamool nominated ten-time MLA and veteran leader Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as LoP on 20 May. But the letter nominating Mr. Chattopadhyay had the names of several MLAs written in block letters and two MLAs — Mr. Ritabrata and Mr. Saha — wrote to the Speaker that their signatures were allegedly forged. The letter, which came with the signature of Trinamool general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, prompted an investigation by the West Bengal CID.

On Monday, the Trinamool expelled Mr Ritibrata and Mr Saha after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari publicly announced the probe. Since his expulsion, Mr Ritabrata has been reaching out to Trinamool MLAs and garnering support in his favour.

Rebel Trinamool leaders said Mr Abhishek, the party’s general secretary, “had no connection with representatives of Trinamool legislators of the 18th West Bengal Legislative Assembly”. They said that if he is found guilty, the Speaker of the Assembly can write to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha asking him to disqualify Mr. Abhishek as an MP.

Mamata loyalists at CM meeting

Earlier in the day, about 20 Trinamool MLAs, including Mamata Banerjee loyalists like Kunal Ghosh and Firhad Hakim, attended an administrative meeting at the West Bengal State Secretariat presided over by the chief minister. Later that day, Mr. Hakim resigned as Mayor of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

While Ms Banerjee’s loyalists have said the ousted Trinamool leader cannot be appointed to the LoP, it is becoming evident by the day that the Speaker’s grip on her party is loosening. Hundreds of local Trinamool leaders – including councillors, former and sitting MLAs – have been arrested since the party was ousted from power on May 4.

On Monday, Ms. Banerjee staged a protest at the Esplanade in Kolkata, but there was no response as most of the party’s elected MLAs remained absent.

Published – 03 Jun 2026 16:29 IST