Trinamool faction fight intensifies, pushback planned against Ritabrata
Ritabrata Banerjee faces resistance in Trinamool identity battle
Leaders behind ‘New Trinamool’ now reaching out to Kalighat as party tensions rise, claims senior MLA.
Trinamool Power Struggle Intensifies as Mamata Camp Plans Countermove
A fierce political battle has erupted within the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, with rival groups claiming legitimacy as the “real” Trinamool. The conflict has deepened following the emergence of Ritabrata Banerjee as the newly appointed Leader of the Opposition, a development that has triggered an open power struggle within the party.
Ritabrata Banerjee has claimed the support of 60 out of the party’s 80 MLAs, positioning himself as the dominant force within the opposition ranks. His camp has also promoted the concept of a “New Trinamool,” signalling a major shift in the party’s internal power structure after its recent electoral setback.
According to political observers, Ritabrata’s rise has been swift and largely unchallenged since the party’s disappointing election performance. His supporters argue that the party requires fresh leadership and a new direction to regain political relevance in the state.
However, the faction loyal to former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has now decided to push back against what it views as an attempt to sideline the party’s most influential leader. Sources within the camp indicate that a coordinated strategy has been put in place to challenge Ritabrata’s authority and regain control over the party narrative.
The Mamata Banerjee faction is reportedly pursuing a two-pronged approach. First, it plans to move the court challenging the Assembly Speaker’s decision to recognise Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition. Party insiders believe a legal challenge could buy valuable time for the leadership to reorganise and strengthen its position.
The second part of the strategy involves direct outreach to rebel legislators who had aligned themselves with Ritabrata Banerjee. Senior leaders are actively engaging with these MLAs in an attempt to persuade them to return to the original Trinamool fold.
Senior MLA Soven Deb Chatterjee has claimed that signs of dissatisfaction are already emerging within the rebel camp. Speaking on the ongoing developments, he said that several leaders who had earlier rallied behind Ritabrata Banerjee and promoted the “New Trinamool” narrative are now reaching out to Mamata Banerjee’s residence in Kalighat.
According to Chatterjee, many of these leaders are making repeated calls and expressing a desire to reconnect with the original party leadership. Their message, he suggested, is clear: they want to return to the Trinamool under Mamata Banerjee’s guidance.
Chatterjee also questioned the credibility of the support claimed by Ritabrata Banerjee. He alleged that the list of MLAs submitted to the Assembly Speaker as proof of support was not authentic and described it as forged.
The dispute has increasingly centred on numbers, loyalty and signatures, with both factions attempting to demonstrate that they command the support of the majority of legislators. As the confrontation escalates, fresh tensions appear to be emerging within the rebel camp itself.
One MLA aligned with Ritabrata Banerjee has reportedly made it clear that he would not accept any arrangement in which Mamata Banerjee is reduced to merely an advisory role. The remark highlights potential divisions among those backing the “New Trinamool” project and suggests that consensus within the faction may not be as strong as initially projected.
With legal challenges looming, rival claims over party leadership intensifying and signs of unrest emerging on both sides, the battle for control of the Trinamool Congress appears far from over. The coming weeks could prove crucial in determining whether the party reunites under a common leadership or faces a deeper and potentially lasting split.