Rebel TMC MLAs Insist Mamata Must Remain Supreme Leader, Signal Discomfort Over Adviser Role

A day after 58 Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislators broke ranks with former national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, cracks appeared within the rebel camp itself, with several MLAs insisting that former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee must remain the party’s supreme leader and warning they could reconsider their support if she is reduced to an advisory role.

The concerns surfaced during a meeting of the dissident legislature bloc led by Ritabrata Banerjee, who was recently recognised as Leader of Opposition following the dramatic shift in the party’s legislative wing.

The TMC has been grappling with an unprecedented internal revolt after its defeat to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections, which ended the party’s long tenure in power.

Debate Over Mamata Banerjee’s Role

The unease was triggered by a proposal from Ritabrata Banerjee suggesting that Mamata Banerjee could serve as the “chief adviser” to the reconstituted legislature party.

Several rebel MLAs, however, argued that such a designation fails to reflect her stature as the founder and principal leader of the party.

“We were told that the party would continue under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership. She is not merely an adviser. We want the party to function under her leadership,” rebel MLA Gulshan Mullick said after the meeting.

Mullick also indicated that the issue could influence the future cohesion of the rebel bloc.

“If Mamata Banerjee is not accepted as the supreme leader, then we will have to think whether we should remain in this bloc or not,” the Panchla legislator said.

Loyalty to Mamata, Opposition to Abhishek

Since the rebellion began, dissident legislators have sought to distinguish between their opposition to Abhishek Banerjee and their loyalty to Mamata Banerjee.

The rebels have consistently argued that their dispute concerns Abhishek’s influence over the party and legislature wing rather than the leadership of the TMC founder herself.

That distinction has become central to the group’s political messaging, allowing members to position themselves as supporters of Mamata Banerjee while challenging what they describe as Abhishek Banerjee’s growing authority within the organisation.

Sitai MLA Sangeeta Roy Basunia echoed those sentiments.

“Mamata Banerjee is our supreme leader and will remain so. She cannot be an adviser. She is our leader,” Basunia said.

Crisis Deepens Within TMC

The developments add a new layer of uncertainty to the TMC’s internal crisis following its electoral defeat and the subsequent split within its legislature party.

On Thursday, 58 MLAs took control of the legislature wing, elected expelled leader Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of Opposition and secured formal recognition from the Assembly Speaker.

The move has triggered what many observers regard as the most serious internal challenge in the party’s 28-year history.

The rebellion has exposed widening tensions between the party organisation and its elected representatives while raising broader questions about leadership, succession and the future direction of a political force that dominated West Bengal politics for more than a decade.