Mamata Banerjee Reshuffles TMC to Curb Abhishek’s Power Amid Rebellion

Mamata Banerjee has executed a sweeping organisational overhaul of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), retaining nephew Abhishek Banerjee as national general secretary but appointing veteran leaders Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen as joint secretaries. Political analysts view the move as a calculated effort to dilute Abhishek’s grip on the party machinery and reassert Mamata’s supreme authority during what many are calling the party’s most severe internal crisis since 1998.

Rebellion Exposes Deep Cracks in TMC

The Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel faction, which initially claimed the support of 58 of TMC’s 80 MLAs, is already showing signs of fragmentation, with only 32 attending a crucial meeting. Mamata’s own huddle fared no better, drawing just eight MLAs and a handful of MPs, raising fresh fears of a broader parliamentary exodus. Reports suggest as many as 20 Lok Sabha MPs could soon form a separate bloc, potentially extending the assembly crisis into Parliament.

TMC MP Mahua Moitra hit back sharply, accusing the BJP of orchestrating the split through coercion and insider knowledge of rebel MLAs’ vulnerabilities. She mocked the breakaway leaders as individuals who had coasted on Mamata’s personal charisma and dared them to contest future elections under their own symbol.

Legal Offensive to Slow Rebel Momentum

Mamata is simultaneously preparing a Supreme Court challenge against the Speaker’s recognition of Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of Opposition, citing procedural violations. Party strategists believe combining legal pressure with personal outreach to wavering rebels could fracture the mutiny from within, buying Mamata critical time to consolidate her legislative base and reassert control over the Bengal political landscape.