June 01, 2026 10:50 pm (IST)
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Is ‘real TMC’ revolt brewing? Signature dispute, MLA dissent and boycott of Mamata meeting fuel Maharashtra-style split buzz
Kolkata/IBNS: Political speculation is intensifying in West Bengal after a series of developments within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) triggered comparisons with the splits that reshaped Maharashtra’s political landscape.
Questions are now being raised over whether a faction claiming to represent the “real Trinamool” could emerge amid growing disagreements over leadership decisions and organisational functioning.
The discussion has gained momentum following the collapse of a meeting convened by TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and the ongoing controversy surrounding the appointment of the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly.
LoP selection sparks controversy
The latest political turbulence centres on the process through which veteran TMC leader Sovandeb Chattopadhyay was proposed as the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.
According to party communications, TMC legislators had unanimously backed Chattopadhyay for the position.
However, controversy erupted after questions surfaced regarding signatures attached to a resolution submitted in support of the nomination.
Allegations emerged that some signatures on the document may not have matched those of the legislators concerned.
The issue subsequently attracted the attention of the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which has reportedly contacted multiple MLAs as part of its inquiry.
The controversy deepened further after reports indicated that the CID had also approached senior party leaders in connection with the investigation.
Sources have suggested that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to examine the allegations.
Three-fourths of MLAs skip key meeting
Amid the controversy, attention has shifted to an internal party meeting called by Mamata Banerjee.
Political observers noted that only a fraction of the party’s victorious legislators reportedly attended the gathering.
According to reports, of the 80 TMC MLAs elected to the Assembly, only around 20 attended the meeting.
The low turnout has fuelled discussions about possible dissatisfaction among sections of the legislative party.
The development has coincided with criticism from several defeated party leaders, some of whom have publicly questioned recent organisational decisions.
While some have directed their criticism at the party's leadership structure, others have reportedly raised concerns about decision-making processes within the organisation.
Old divides return to spotlight
The latest developments have revived discussions about long-standing perceptions of internal divisions within the Trinamool Congress.
For several years, political circles in Bengal have spoken of differences between various centres of influence within the party.
Observers have often described these divisions as a contest between the party’s senior leadership and a younger generation of leaders.
The current controversy has once again brought those discussions into focus, with reports suggesting that a section of legislators is unhappy with the manner in which key Assembly positions were finalised.
Some party insiders have reportedly compared the situation with earlier opposition arrangements in the Assembly, arguing that broader consultation should have preceded major appointments.
Comparisons with Maharashtra political realignments
The developments have inevitably invited comparisons with Maharashtra, where factional battles within the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led to major political realignments.
In Maharashtra, rival factions led by leaders such as Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar claimed legitimacy while continuing to use their respective party identities.
Political observers in Bengal are now debating whether a similar model could emerge within the Trinamool Congress if internal differences continue to widen.
Some reports suggest that rather than immediately joining another political party, dissatisfied leaders could potentially seek to establish themselves as the authentic voice of the organisation.
A source claimed that several TMC MLAs, who skipped Mamata Banerjee's call, joined a meeting at a Kolkata five-star hotel.
The source further said that the TMC MLAs, who are opposing the Mamata-Abhishek party line, are planning to claim the Leader of the Opposition post as well as to submit a resolution regarding this before the Speaker of the Assembly this week.
Such discussions have intensified because of repeated warnings by Mamata Banerjee in the past that attempts could be made to weaken or divide her party, similar to developments witnessed in Maharashtra.
BJP option appears uncertain
Speculation about dissatisfied leaders shifting directly to the BJP has existed since the Assembly election results.
However, reports indicate that such a move may not currently be viewed as a straightforward option.
This has prompted further discussion about whether any future dissenting group would instead attempt to carve out a separate identity while retaining links to the Trinamool's political legacy.
The possibility has led to growing use of the phrase “real Trinamool” in political conversations, although no formal faction has publicly announced such plans.
Focus turns to future power equations
As the CID probe into the signature controversy continues and internal disagreements remain under scrutiny, attention is increasingly focused on the future direction of the Trinamool Congress.
The combination of questions over the opposition leadership selection process, reported MLA dissatisfaction, and renewed debate over leadership dynamics has ensured that comparisons with Maharashtra's political upheavals remain part of the ongoing conversation in West Bengal politics.
For now, the emergence of a formal breakaway faction remains a matter of speculation, but the developments have brought internal equations within the Trinamool Congress under sharper public and political scrutiny.
#TMC split
# Mamata Banerjee
# Abhishek Banerjee
# Real Trinamool
# West Bengal politics
# TMC MLA dissent
# signature controversy
# Leader of Opposition West Bengal
# TMC crisis
# Maharashtra model politics
# Eknath Shinde comparison
# Ajit Pawar comparison
# Bengal political developments
# TMC internal feud
# CID signature probe
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