Mamata Banerjee takes charge as TMC Bengal president amid party crisis
Synopsis
Facing the sharpest internal revolt in years, Mamata Banerjee has cut out the middleman — taking direct charge of the TMC's West Bengal unit herself after her state president defected to a rebel faction. With the party symbol, funds, and the 21 July Martyrs' Day rally all now in play, Banerjee's Facebook Live was equal parts crisis management and a warning shot.
Key Takeaways
Mamata Banerjee assumed charge as TMC West Bengal state president on 4 July , choosing not to appoint a successor.
Chandrima Bhattacharya resigned from the state president post after joining the rebel faction led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee .
Banerjee named Kunal Ghosh and Madan Mitra as the party's two West Bengal state general secretaries .
She urged rebel legislators to formally join the BJP rather than claim to be the 'real Trinamool Congress.' The dispute over the party's name and election symbol is expected to be contested before the Election Commission of India .
The annual Martyrs' Day rally on 21 July at Esplanade, Kolkata will proceed as planned, Banerjee confirmed.
Trinamool Congress national chairperson and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday, 4 July assumed direct charge as the party's West Bengal state president, hours after incumbent Chandrima Bhattacharya resigned from the post to align with a rebel faction. The move signals an aggressive consolidation of power by Banerjee as an internal crisis deepens within the party.
What Triggered the Takeover
Bhattacharya's resignation came after she sided with the rebel grouping led by expelled Trinamool Congress legislator Ritabrata Banerjee. Within hours of her departure, Mamata Banerjee went live on Facebook, announcing she would not appoint a successor and would instead occupy the state president's chair herself. She simultaneously named loyalist legislators Kunal Ghosh and Madan Mitra as the party's two West Bengal state general secretaries.
Mamata's Direct Message to Rebels
In a combative address, Banerjee urged those aligned with the rebel 'majority faction' to formally join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rather than continue claiming to represent the 'real Trinamool Congress.' She accused the breakaway group of targeting the party's name, election symbol, and funds.
'I know you are doing all these things to grab the party name, election symbol and the party funds. I know that ultimately you might not be able to get control over the election symbol. But even if you are successful in doing that, courtesy of the Election Commission of India, I will not be bothered,' Banerjee said. She added defiantly: 'You will have to kill me to silence my voice.'
Martyrs' Day Rally Assurance
Banerjee also addressed uncertainty surrounding the party's annual Martyrs' Day rally on 21 July, a flagship event for the TMC. Kolkata Police has already granted permission for the rally at its traditional venue in front of the CESC office at Esplanade in Central Kolkata. 'Be assured that the Martyrs' Day Programme will be conducted as usual this time also. If necessary, I will stand on a rickshaw and organise the rally,' she said.
The Broader Crisis Within TMC
The rebellion, led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee, represents one of the more serious organisational challenges Mamata Banerjee has faced within the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) in recent years. The dispute over the party's official symbol and organisational legitimacy is now likely to head to the Election Commission of India. Notably, Mamata Banerjee invoked her own history — recalling that she first contested an election with the party's symbol just one month and 22 days after receiving it — to underline that the symbol alone does not define the party's mass base.
What Happens Next
The rebel faction's claim over the TMC name and symbol will likely be adjudicated by the Election Commission of India, setting up a potentially prolonged legal and political battle. With the 21 July rally approaching, Banerjee's direct assumption of organisational control is also a show of strength to the party's grassroots workers ahead of what could be a defining public mobilisation.
Point of View
She bypassed party hierarchy entirely — speaking directly to the grassroots, which remains her most reliable constituency. The rebel faction's play for the TMC symbol is a high-risk gambit; the Election Commission has historically been reluctant to split symbols from dominant factions. But the deeper question is what drove senior figures like Bhattacharya to defect in the first place — and whether Banerjee's consolidation addresses that grievance or merely suppresses it.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Mamata Banerjee take over as TMC West Bengal state president?
Mamata Banerjee assumed the state president role on 4 July after Chandrima Bhattacharya resigned to join a rebel faction led by expelled TMC legislator Ritabrata Banerjee. Banerjee chose not to appoint a replacement, instead taking direct charge to consolidate her control over the party organisation during an internal crisis.
Who is leading the rebel faction within Trinamool Congress?
The rebel grouping is led by expelled TMC legislator Ritabrata Banerjee. The faction has been claiming to represent the 'real Trinamool Congress' and is reportedly seeking control over the party's name, election symbol, and funds.
What will happen to the TMC election symbol?
The dispute over the party's official name and election symbol is expected to be referred to the Election Commission of India for adjudication. Mamata Banerjee indicated she would not be deterred even if the rebels succeeded in obtaining the symbol, recalling that she had previously contested an election with the TMC symbol just one month and 22 days after first receiving it.
Will the TMC Martyrs' Day rally on 21 July go ahead?
Yes. Mamata Banerjee confirmed the annual Martyrs' Day rally will be held as usual on 21 July at its traditional venue near the CESC office at Esplanade in Central Kolkata. Kolkata Police has already granted permission for the event.
Who are Kunal Ghosh and Madan Mitra?
Kunal Ghosh and Madan Mitra are TMC legislators named by Mamata Banerjee as the party's two West Bengal state general secretaries. Both were identified as loyalists who have remained with Banerjee amid the current party crisis.
