Mamata, Abhishek Banerjee at INDIA bloc meet amid TMC crisis
Synopsis
Trinamool Congress is fracturing at speed — a rebel bloc already controls the West Bengal Assembly, a similar split looms in Parliament, and Abhishek Banerjee has now skipped CID summons twice. The INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi on 8 June is less a coalition strategy session for the Banerjees and more a survival mission.
Key Takeaways
Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee are attending the INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi on 8 June .
Trinamool Congress faces an existential crisis after its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections , with a majority faction already breaking away in the state Assembly.
A similar rebel majority bloc is reportedly forming in the TMC Parliamentary party, led by Lok Sabha member Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar .
Abhishek Banerjee skipped a CID summons for the second time — the first was on 1 June — due to his presence in New Delhi.
A Kolkata court hearing on his petition challenging the CID notice is scheduled for 10 June .
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew, Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, are attending the INDIA bloc opposition meeting in New Delhi on 8 June, as the party navigates a deepening internal crisis following its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections. Political observers note that the meeting carries far greater stakes for the Banerjees than for most other bloc members.
Why the Meeting Is Critical for TMC
The electoral loss has triggered what analysts describe as an existential crisis within Trinamool Congress. A majority faction has already broken away and consolidated itself in the West Bengal Assembly. There are now rising apprehensions that a similar majority bloc could form within the party's Parliamentary group, reportedly under the leadership of rebel TMC Lok Sabha member Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar.
A party insider told reports that nearly all TMC Members of Parliament — from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha — are currently present in New Delhi, adding to speculation about the party's next moves.
Abhishek Banerjee Skips CID Summons Again
Abhishek Banerjee was due to appear before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police at its headquarters in South Kolkata by noon on Monday. The summons relates to an ongoing CID probe into alleged signature mismatches on a resolution concerning the appointment of four key opposition positions in the West Bengal Assembly.
His presence in New Delhi for the INDIA bloc meeting has ruled out that appearance. This marks the second consecutive time he has skipped the CID summons — the first instance was on 1 June.
Court Hearing Scheduled for June 10
A crucial hearing before a single-judge vacation bench in Kolkata is scheduled for 10 June. The bench will take up Abhishek Banerjee's petition challenging the CID notice and seeking protection from coercive police action, including arrest, in the same case.
While Abhishek Banerjee reached the national capital on Saturday afternoon, Mamata Banerjee arrived in New Delhi on Sunday evening, signalling the weight the party leadership attaches to the bloc meeting.
What to Watch Next
All eyes remain on whether the Banerjees can secure meaningful backing from INDIA bloc allies to stabilise TMC's national standing, even as the party's internal fault lines widen. The 10 June court hearing and any further developments within the Parliamentary party are expected to shape the party's trajectory in the days ahead.
Point of View
But it cannot paper over a Parliamentary party that is reportedly on the verge of splitting. Abhishek Banerjee skipping CID summons twice in a row also raises a separate accountability question that the bloc meeting will not resolve. The 10 June court hearing is the more consequential date — it will determine whether the CID probe can proceed with coercive action, which would dramatically escalate the political and legal pressure on the TMC leadership.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee attending the INDIA bloc meeting?
The Banerjees are attending the INDIA bloc opposition meeting in New Delhi on 8 June to seek backing from allied parties amid a deepening internal crisis in Trinamool Congress following the party's defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections. Political observers say the meeting is especially critical for TMC given the scale of its current difficulties.
What is the crisis facing Trinamool Congress?
Following its West Bengal election defeat, TMC has seen a majority faction break away and consolidate in the state Assembly. There are now reports that a similar rebel bloc may form within the party's Parliamentary group, reportedly under rebel Lok Sabha member Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar.
Why did Abhishek Banerjee skip the CID summons?
Abhishek Banerjee was summoned by the West Bengal Police CID to appear at its South Kolkata headquarters on Monday in connection with a probe into alleged signature mismatches on an Assembly resolution. His attendance at the New Delhi INDIA bloc meeting meant he could not comply — the second consecutive summons he has missed after skipping the first on 1 June.
What is the CID probe about?
The CID is investigating a mismatch in the signatures of several TMC legislators on a resolution related to the appointment of four key opposition positions in the West Bengal Assembly. Abhishek Banerjee has filed a petition challenging the CID notice and seeking protection from arrest.
What happens next in the Abhishek Banerjee legal case?
A single-judge vacation bench in Kolkata is scheduled to hear Abhishek Banerjee's petition on 10 June. The bench will consider his challenge to the CID notice and his request for protection from coercive police action, including arrest.
