Kunal Ghosh questions TMC's organisational decisions after national meet
Synopsis
Days after TMC's crushing assembly defeat, legislator Kunal Ghosh has gone public with frustration over the party retaining Abhishek Banerjee as General Secretary — a decision that rebel leaders say ignores the very management style blamed for the loss. His X post is the most visible sign yet that internal dissent is far from settled.
Key Takeaways
Kunal Ghosh , TMC legislator and party spokesman, posted a dissent-signalling message on X on 6 June .
The TMC national working committee on Friday retained Abhishek Banerjee as General Secretary and created two new Deputy General Secretary posts for Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen .
Rebel TMC leaders have blamed Abhishek Banerjee's management style and reliance on I-PAC for the party's landslide defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections .
Ghosh said he cannot 'turn a blind eye' to continuing mistakes and plans to meet party workers and youth from across West Bengal .
He stated he remains personally loyal to Mamata Banerjee but does not endorse what he called repeated organisational mistakes.
Trinamool Congress legislator and party spokesman Kunal Ghosh on Saturday, 6 June published a pointed social media post indirectly challenging decisions taken at the party's national working committee meeting the previous day, where key organisational portfolios were redistributed. The post signals deepening internal friction within the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) following its landslide defeat in the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections.
What the National Working Committee Decided
At Friday's meeting, the party resolved to retain Abhishek Banerjee — nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee — as TMC General Secretary. Two new posts of Deputy General Secretary were simultaneously created and allotted to Rajya Sabha members Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen. The reshuffle caught political observers off guard, particularly given the charged atmosphere of internal dissent within the party.
Why the Decision Surprised Political Circles
The move came against the backdrop of a simmering rebellion inside the TMC. A significant section of rebel leaders has publicly attributed the party's poor showing in the assembly polls to Abhishek Banerjee's corporate-management style of functioning and the party's heavy dependence on the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC). Retaining Abhishek in the top organisational role, critics argue, sidesteps those concerns rather than addressing them.
What Kunal Ghosh Said
Without directly naming the Friday decisions, Ghosh used his X post to register clear disagreement. He opened by stating that, as a legislator elected on the TMC symbol granted by Mamata Banerjee, he does not endorse the manner in which certain party leaders and legislators allegedly betrayed her within a month of the state elections — reportedly with the backing of political opponents and for personal interests.
'However, instead of correcting the party's mistakes, if mistakes continue at various levels, I cannot turn a blind eye to that. I am listening to the huge number of party workers who are still communicating from different districts of West Bengal. Students and youth are communicating and they are saying many things. We have requested to give them a hearing. I will sit with them. We will see what happens next later,' Ghosh said in his X post.
He also drew a clear line between personal loyalty and institutional endorsement. 'I am not with betrayal or the betrayers. But I continue with my ears, eyes, brain, heart and mouth open, both inside and outside,' he added.
Ghosh's Position Within the Party
Ghosh reiterated that he remains aligned with Mamata Banerjee personally but is unwilling to overlook what he described as repeated mistakes by the TMC leadership. His willingness to air these views publicly — rather than through internal channels — underscores the scale of discontent that the party's top brass has yet to fully contain.
What Happens Next
With Ghosh signalling plans to meet party workers and youth from across West Bengal, the coming days will test whether his dissent remains a solo voice or crystallises into a broader internal challenge. The TMC leadership's response — or silence — will be closely watched as the party attempts to regroup after its assembly setback.
Point of View
A distinction that gives him political cover while maximising pressure on the leadership. The real story here is not one disgruntled MLA but the fact that retaining Abhishek Banerjee after an election where I-PAC's role became a lightning rod sends a clear signal: the Banerjee family's grip on the party organisation is non-negotiable, defeat or not. That calculus may silence the rebellion in the short term, but it does nothing to address the structural grievances that rebel leaders have raised. If Ghosh's planned meetings with workers and youth gain traction, the TMC could be looking at a prolonged, low-grade internal crisis heading into the next electoral cycle.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Kunal Ghosh post criticism of TMC on social media?
Kunal Ghosh posted on X on 6 June to indirectly challenge decisions taken at the TMC national working committee meeting the previous day, particularly the retention of Abhishek Banerjee as General Secretary. He said he could not ignore continuing mistakes at various levels of the party.
What was decided at the TMC national working committee meeting?
The meeting on Friday resolved to retain Abhishek Banerjee as TMC General Secretary and created two new Deputy General Secretary posts, allotted to Rajya Sabha members Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen. The reshuffle was described as a surprise given the prevailing mood of internal dissent.
Why are TMC rebel leaders unhappy with Abhishek Banerjee?
Rebel leaders have accused Abhishek Banerjee of running the party in a corporate-management style with heavy dependence on I-PAC, which they blame for TMC's landslide defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections. They argue that retaining him sidesteps the core organisational problems.
Is Kunal Ghosh leaving the Trinamool Congress?
Ghosh has stated he remains personally loyal to Mamata Banerjee and has not announced any intention to leave the party. However, he explicitly said he does not endorse what he described as repeated mistakes by the TMC leadership.
What has Kunal Ghosh said he will do next?
Ghosh said he plans to meet party workers and youth communicating from different districts of West Bengal. He indicated he would listen to their concerns before deciding on his next steps.
