Abhishek Banerjee Seeks Disqualification of 20 Rebel TMC MPs as Party Faces Internal Crisis

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday to submit petitions seeking the disqualification of 20 party MPs who recently joined a different political bloc. This action follows the MPs' announcement on June 14 that they had merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), a lesser-known Bengal-based party, and requested recognition as a separate group in Parliament.

The split in the TMC parliamentary party, led by Abhishek Banerjee, comes after nearly 60 of the party's 80 MLAs defied the leadership's selection of Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the state assembly. Instead, they named Ritabrata Banerjee as their legislature party leader. This internal dissent has put significant pressure on the party, which has been in power in West Bengal since 2011.

Abhishek Banerjee, 38, who was widely seen as the party's number two and potential successor to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has faced criticism from both rebel groups. They have cited his leadership style—described as high-handed, inaccessible, and arrogant—as a key reason for their rebellion. During a meeting called by Mamata Banerjee on May 19 to discuss the party's defeat in the recent assembly elections, several MLAs openly attributed the loss to Abhishek Banerjee's leadership.

Further complicating matters, two MLAs, Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, complained to Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose that their signatures were allegedly forged in a party resolution regarding the LoP selection. This led to their expulsion from the party and a state CID investigation, which summoned Abhishek Banerjee for questioning. Subsequently, around 60 MLAs elected Ritabrata Banerjee as their leader, and the Speaker recognised him as the LoP.

Rebel leaders have called on Mamata Banerjee to take direct control of the party, with Ritabrata Banerjee stating, “Abhishek Banerjee has no connection with the legislature party,” and urging the Chief Minister to guide them as their “chief advisor.” The 20 MPs who switched sides also blamed Abhishek Banerjee for the crisis. Even a loyalist MP, Kalyan Banerjee, initially criticised Abhishek for his “arrogance” but later resolved differences and accompanied him to the Speaker's meeting.

Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, the party's initial pick for LoP, defended the leadership, saying that while differences can be raised within the party, public attacks during a crisis are opportunistic and unjustified. The TMC is now navigating a period of internal turmoil, with its leadership facing challenges from both within and outside the party.