Kolkata

The internal crisis within the Trinamool Congress appeared to intensify on Monday, with rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee claiming that Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Shekhar Ray's resignation reflected a growing wave of dissatisfaction against the party's official leadership.

Banerjee, who leads the breakaway faction in the West Bengal Assembly, described Ray's exit from both the TMC and the Rajya Sabha as part of a broader expression of discontent among senior party members.

According to him, the veteran parliamentarian's decision was not an isolated act but indicative of a shared sentiment among leaders who have become increasingly unhappy with the party's functioning.

Recognised by Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose as the Leader of Opposition after securing the support of 58 out of the TMC's 80 MLAs, Banerjee asserted that several more MPs could distance themselves from the party in the days ahead.

His comments came as contrasting developments unfolded in the national capital. While TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and senior party MPs attended the INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi, reports emerged of around a dozen dissident TMC parliamentarians gathering at the residence of Union Minister and BJP's West Bengal election in-charge Bhupender Yadav.

The meeting at Yadav's Motilal Nehru Marg residence, seen by political observers as a sign that the rebellion has spread beyond the state Assembly to Parliament, was reportedly attended by Sukhendu Shekhar Ray.

Sources also indicated that West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who is in Delhi on official engagements, and former Tripura chief minister Biplab Deb, who previously served as the BJP's co-in-charge for West Bengal, briefly visited the venue.

Against this backdrop, Ritabrata Banerjee suggested that Ray's resignation could trigger a larger political shift.

"Sukhenduda is a senior leader. His resignation represents the collective resolve of many of us and a significant section of party leaders outside the Assembly. Delhi is not far from Kolkata, and the number of dissatisfied TMC MPs may increase at any moment," he told reporters outside the Assembly premises.

He further claimed to be in contact with several parliamentarians who shared similar concerns regarding the party's direction.

Although Banerjee said he had not spoken to Ray before the resignation, he endorsed the veteran leader's criticism of the party's internal functioning and decision-making processes.

According to him, frustrations over the treatment of dissenting voices and dissatisfaction with the functioning of the party in the Rajya Sabha have been simmering for some time.

Drawing from his own stint in Parliament, Banerjee alleged that merit and parliamentary performance were often overlooked in favour of proximity to the leadership.

"I spent 15 months sitting in the last row of Parliament while junior leaders and RTI activists occupied front seats. Performance in the House never seemed to matter. I felt the same injustice was meted out to Sukhenduda as well," he said.

He then launched a veiled attack on the TMC's leadership in the Rajya Sabha, in an apparent reference to party leader Derek O'Brien.

"Seat allocation for MPs is decided by the House leadership. The person handling this seems more interested in managing the affairs of Diamond Harbour Football Club. Such theatrics may work in quiz shows and elsewhere, but not in Parliament," Banerjee remarked without naming O'Brien directly.

The comments alluded to O'Brien's past career as a quizmaster and the Diamond Harbour Football Club, whose president is Abhishek Banerjee and which is set to participate in the 2026-27 Indian Super League season.

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With one of the party's senior-most MPs walking away and rebel leaders openly predicting further defections, the power struggle within the Trinamool Congress appears to be entering a more turbulent phase. The evolving crisis could significantly impact the party's strength both in the West Bengal Assembly and in Parliament.