Rebel All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Satabdi Roy on Wednesday, 10 June delivered one of the sharpest internal critiques of the party in recent memory, alleging that corruption, overconfidence, and the sidelining of veteran workers had hollowed out the organisation from within. Speaking from Kolkata, Roy argued that the wave of leaders distancing themselves from the TMC was not a series of individual rebellions but a symptom of structural failure at the top.

A Pattern of Departures, Not Isolated Incidents

Roy was unambiguous in placing collective responsibility on the party leadership for the exodus of leaders. “So many people have left or revolted. One may say it is their personal agenda or their fault, but when such a large number of people become dissatisfied, the responsibility also lies with the party,” she said. She insisted the TMC could not continue to dismiss every departure as an individual failing, arguing that the sheer scale of dissatisfaction pointed to a systemic breakdown in how the party managed its workers and leaders over the years.

No Post-Defeat Introspection, No Path to Recovery

One of Roy’s most pointed criticisms was the party’s alleged refusal to analyse its electoral losses. “Even after electoral losses, there was no serious discussion about why we lost. If you do not discuss your defeats, how will you prepare to win in the future?” she said. She drew a comparison to the media industry, noting that even television channels hold internal reviews when ratings fall. “If there is no introspection, others will continue moving ahead while you remain complacent,” she added. This comes amid a broader pattern of post-poll soul-searching that the TMC has, by her account, repeatedly deferred.

Corruption, Overconfidence, and the IPAC Factor

Roy listed four factors she believed were primarily responsible for the party’s difficulties: corruption, overconfidence, the growing dominance of political consultancy firm IPAC, and the neglect of long-serving party workers. “Corruption is one reason. Overconfidence is another. There was a belief that people would vote for us regardless of what happened,” she said. She was particularly critical of the increasing reliance on data-driven decision-making by outside consultants, arguing that grassroots workers who had spent decades in a constituency understood local realities far better than any algorithm. “They may be highly educated and skilled with data and computers, but politics is not only about statistics,” she said.

Mamata Should Not Have Delegated So Much, Says Roy

In a remark that is likely to draw the most attention, Roy said former West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee should have retained greater control over key political decisions rather than delegating authority to her nephew and party General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee. “Mamata Banerjee is one of the most experienced politicians in the country. She should not have delegated everything to Abhishek Banerjee. Similarly, Abhishek should not have left everything to consultants. In the process, valuable time, trust and organisational strength were lost,” she said. Roy also questioned whether the leadership was genuinely unaware of the corruption that had allegedly taken root, suggesting that either ignorance or inaction on the part of the administration amounted to a serious failure of governance.

On the Road Ahead

Roy said no final decisions had been taken about her political future or the direction of the dissident grouping. “Different groups are working separately at present, and discussions will continue. Nobody has made any final decision about the road ahead,” she said. She also offered measured praise for the current BJP-led administration in the state, noting that schemes such as free bus services and the Annapurna programme had already been set in motion. “If governments fail to deliver, they eventually face the consequences from voters,” she added, signalling that her assessment of the new dispensation remained conditional on continued delivery.