TMC crisis deepens as Mamata's aide Chandrima Bhattacharya quits all party posts

The former state finance minister has resigned from all Trinamool Congress posts and as the party's signing authority. Her exit adds to a widening wave of resignations, defections and rebellion across the party.

In Short

• Trusted Mamata Banerjee aide quits amid spate of resignations after polls
• Chandrima Bhattacharya lost in Dum Dum Uttar seat to BJP's Sourav Sikdar
• Parliamentary rebellion grows as MPs and MLAs continue deserting the party

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) suffered yet another setback on Saturday, with senior leader Chandrima Bhattacharya resigning from all party positions, further deepening the political crisis engulfing the Mamata Banerjee-led outfit after its crushing defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections.

In her resignation letter to Mamata Banerjee, Bhattacharya confirmed that she had stepped down from every organisational responsibility, including her role as the party's signing authority.

Her exit adds to the growing list of leaders abandoning the TMC in the aftermath of the electoral drubbing, intensifying questions over Mamata Banerjee's grip on the party she founded.

Bhattacharya had long been regarded as one of Mamata Banerjee's most trusted lieutenants and played a key role in the party organisation.

Her resignation marks a significant political blow given her close association with the former West Bengal Chief Minister.

The development comes weeks after Bhattacharya’s individual defeat in the Dum Dum Uttar Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas, where she secured 76,880 votes but lost to the BJP's Sourav Sikdar by 26,404 votes.

Her electoral setback mirrored the TMC's wider collapse in the state, where the party was reduced to just 80 seats, while the BJP stormed to power with 207 seats in the 293 constituencies that went to the polls.

SWELLING LIST OF TMC RESIGNATIONS

Chandrima Bhattacharya's resignation is the latest chapter in an unprecedented wave of defections that has rocked the TMC since the election results.

The crisis first erupted within the party's legislative wing, where a majority of TMC MLAs rallied behind rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee, significantly weakening Mamata Banerjee's authority in the Assembly.

The rebellion soon spread to Parliament, with senior Rajya Sabha members Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik resigning from both the Upper House and the party.

Reports have also indicated that several more Rajya Sabha MPs could quit in the coming days, threatening to further reduce the TMC's strength in Parliament.

The turmoil has extended to the Lok Sabha as well. A group led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar has reportedly sought recognition as a separate bloc while expressing support for the NDA.

Among those said to be part of the breakaway camp are Saayoni Ghosh, Yusuf Pathan, and former footballer Prasun Banerjee.

At the organisational level, former minister Jyotipriya Mallick also recently resigned from the party's national working committee, while more than 100 councillors have reportedly stepped down following the Assembly poll rout.

Bhattacharya's resignation reinforces the perception that the TMC's internal crisis is far from over.

With senior leaders, MPs, MLAs and grassroots functionaries continuing to distance themselves from the party, Mamata Banerjee faces perhaps the toughest organisational challenge of her political career.

Whether the TMC leadership can halt the exodus and rebuild party unity in the coming weeks is likely to shape the future of West Bengal's opposition politics.

- Ends