Political Earthquake in Bengal: Expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee Parades 60 Signatures in Assembly, Challenging Mamata Banerjee’s Grip

KOLKATA — In what is rapidly escalating into the most severe existential crisis for the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in its recent history, expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee has sent shockwaves through the West Bengal political landscape. In a dramatic show of strength at the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Banerjee presented the signatures of 59 TMC legislators, effectively commandeering the support of 60 MLAs—including himself—and directly challenging party supremo Mamata Banerjee’s grip on her own legislative flock.

The development marks a stunning setback for the former Chief Minister, reducing her direct sphere of influence in the state assembly to a mere 20 MLAs. Coming on the heels of the 2026 assembly elections—in which the TMC lost state power and was reduced to an 80-seat opposition bloc in the 294-member House—the party now finds itself on the brink of a massive vertical split.

The Battle for the Leader of the Opposition

The immediate flashpoint of this legislative mutiny revolves around the coveted position of the Leader of the Opposition (LoP). Following their electoral defeat, the TMC was mandated by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to submit its formal proposal for the LoP role. Maintaining her traditional top-down leadership style, Mamata Banerjee nominated veteran Trinamool leader Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay for the post.

However, the dissident faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee has completely upended this calculation. By submitting 60 signatures directly to the Speaker, the rebel group has staked a formal claim to effectively represent the principal opposition bloc, proposing Ritabrata as the rightful Leader of the Opposition instead of Chattopadhyay. This move forces the Speaker into a complex constitutional and parliamentary dilemma, as he must now verify the signatures and decide which faction holds the legitimate right to appoint the legislative leader.

Despite the overwhelming numerical disadvantage, Mamata Banerjee’s camp continues to put on a brave face. Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay publicly asserted that the majority of the party’s legislators would ultimately remain steadfast in their loyalty to Mamata Banerjee. However, the ground reality and the mathematics of the assembly suggest a deeply fractured party machinery that has slipped out of the high command’s control.

Dwindling Numbers at Kalighat

The depth of the crisis became painfully evident during recent party gatherings convened by the TMC chief. Speculation regarding an impending split gained massive traction after a protest meeting called by Mamata Banerjee witnessed an embarrassingly low turnout, with only eight MLAs and six Members of Parliament bothering to show up.

This dismal attendance followed another crucial emergency meeting held a day prior at Banerjee’s iconic Kalighat residence. That meeting, intended to be a show of unity and strength, was attended by just 20 MLAs out of the party’s total strength of 80. The glaring absence of three-fourths of the legislative party painted a stark picture of a leadership rapidly losing its absolute authority over the rank and file.

While Mamata was struggling to rally her remaining loyalists, reports began surfacing that Ritabrata Banerjee and his faction of MLAs were holed up in a secret meeting at a local hotel, charting their future course of action. Ritabrata vehemently denied the “secret hotel meeting” narrative, challenging the media to verify his cellular tower location to prove that no such clandestine gathering took place. Nonetheless, the swift mobilization of 60 signatures confirmed that intense back-channel coordination had successfully outmaneuvered the official leadership.

Rebellion Wrapped in Loyalty and Constitutional Leverage

In a deeply paradoxical political maneuver, Ritabrata Banerjee has maintained a public stance of unwavering devotion to the very leader he is systematically undermining. Despite being expelled from the Trinamool Congress for alleged anti-party activities, he told reporters, “I still believe I am with TMC. Mamata is my leader.”

Sources close to the dissident faction indicate that the agitating group is playing a highly calculated game. Rather than triggering a formal split immediately, they intend to function as a separate bloc within the assembly. Under the Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, a split requires at least two-thirds of the legislative party’s members to form a new group to avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law. With 60 out of 80 MLAs, Ritabrata’s faction boasts 75% of the legislative strength—comfortably clearing the required threshold. This mathematical superiority leaves the official party practically powerless to initiate disqualification proceedings.

By retaining the Trinamool identity while asserting independent legislative leadership under Ritabrata, they are staging an internal coup. Their immediate goal is to secure the LoP status, after which they will calibrate their long-term political strategy based on the official party’s response. Mamata Banerjee, meanwhile, took to social media to project invincibility, claiming that “it is never possible to break the Trinamool.”

The Abhishek Banerjee Factor and Forgery Allegations

The internal unrest is further complicated by growing apathy toward Abhishek Banerjee, Mamata’s nephew and the party’s de facto second-in-command. Recently, the Diamond Harbour MP faced a physical attack in Sonarpur. In a telling sign of shifting intra-party dynamics, very few TMC MLAs rallied to condemn the assault, highlighting a deep-seated resentment against his leadership.

Furthermore, a significant legal battle is brewing over documentary evidence submitted to the Speaker. Before Ritabrata’s dramatic presentation, Abhishek Banerjee had submitted a letter to the Speaker containing a list of signatures endorsing the official leadership’s proposals. Several TMC MLAs, including Ritabrata himself, have explosively claimed that their signatures on Abhishek Banerjee’s document were forged.

Taking cognizance of these grave allegations, the state’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been roped in to investigate the forgery claims. The outcome of this probe could have devastating legal and political consequences for the official TMC leadership if the allegations are proven true.

Looking Ahead: Bengal’s Shifting Political Sands

The psychological toll of losing the 2026 state elections has clearly catalyzed this revolt. For 15 years, TMC legislators enjoyed the power of being the ruling dispensation. The sudden shift to the opposition benches has naturally bred insecurity, and Ritabrata Banerjee has successfully tapped into this collective anxiety.

As the West Bengal Assembly awaits the Speaker’s crucial ruling on the LoP position, the Trinamool Congress stands at a perilous crossroads. Whether Mamata Banerjee can deploy her trademark resilience to win back her flock, or whether this rebellion marks the permanent fragmentation of the TMC, will determine the future trajectory of West Bengal politics in the years to come.