TMC's Bengal chief quits a month after appointment, triggering speculation
In a significant development within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Chandrima Bhattacharya has resigned as the party's Bengal state president, barely a month after she assumed the role. The resignation, submitted on Saturday (July 4, 2026), also encompasses all other positions she held within the party, leading to widespread speculation about her complete departure from the organisation.
Bhattacharya, a former minister in the Mamata Banerjee government who oversaw key portfolios such as Finance and Health as Minister of State, also stepped down as the party's authorised signatory for bank accounts and as the designated representative before the Election Commission. Her resignation letter was addressed to the TMC chairperson.
She was appointed state president on June 5, 2026, at a national working committee meeting held at Banerjee's residence in Kalighat, replacing senior leader Subrata Bakshi. The appointment came after the party's poor performance in the 2026 Assembly elections, in which Bhattacharya herself lost her seat in the Dum Dum Uttar constituency to BJP's Sourav Sikdar.
The reasons for her abrupt resignation remain unclear, and party sources have not yet issued an official statement. The development adds to the internal challenges faced by the Mamata Banerjee faction, which has been grappling with infighting and organisational restructuring following the electoral setback.
