Rebel TMC Faction Seizes Party Office and Claims Leadership

A major schism has split the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) following a defeat in the April 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Ritabrata Banerjee, the Leader of the Opposition, leads a rebel faction claiming support from over 60 of the party's 80 MLAs. On June 22, this group held a special session to remove founder Mamata Banerjee as chairperson and appoint Arup Roy to the role, framing the move as a fight against "individual cult" and "ruthless dynastic politics."

On July 2, 2026, a 10-member rebel delegation met with the full bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI) in New Delhi to stake a claim to the party's name, bank accounts, and twin-flower symbol. Mamata Banerjee's camp dismissed the meeting as preposterous, asserting that the rebels are expelled members and not authorized signatories. Loyalists, including Kunal Ghosh, alleged the rebellion is "BJP-sponsored," a claim the Bharatiya Janata Party has denied.

The conflict escalated on July 4, when the rebel faction seized the party's operational headquarters in Kolkata, replacing signage and installing new locks. Loyalists accused the rebels of criminal trespass and alleged that the Central Reserve Police Force shielded the dissidents during the takeover. In response, the ECI has ordered both rival factions to submit documentary evidence regarding their organizational claims and leadership control by July 6, 2026, to determine the legitimate party leadership.