Chandrima Bhattacharya Resigns from TMC Posts, Signals Possible Shift Amid Party Turmoil

In a significant political development, former West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, a prominent figure within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), has resigned from all her party positions. This decision comes as the party grapples with internal dissent and factionalism following a series of electoral setbacks.

On Saturday, Bhattacharya stepped down from her roles and promptly attended a meeting at the state Assembly that included several rebel leaders from the TMC, such as Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee. Her participation at this gathering suggests a potential shift in allegiance as she appears to align herself with the dissenting faction within the party.

In her resignation, Bhattacharya expressed discontent over her exclusion from critical decision-making processes during the TMC’s governance. She pointed out that she was not adequately consulted on major issues, including the state Budget, raising questions about the party’s internal dynamics and leadership structure. Her departure marks a continuing trend of unrest within the TMC, which has witnessed significant factional splits since losing the Assembly elections to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in May.

This turmoil has escalated since early June when nearly 60 of the TMC’s 80 MLAs declared their rebellion against the current leadership, opting to support Ritabrata Banerjee as the new Opposition leader. Further compounding the situation, a group of 20 TMC MPs approached Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, seeking to align with the Nationalist Citizens’ Party of Tripura, a coalition partner of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

The internal strife has prompted TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee to take action against the dissenting MPs by calling for their disqualification from the party. The party’s ongoing discord and Bhattacharya’s resignation reflect the growing challenges faced by Mamata Banerjee’s leadership, raising concerns about the future unity and direction of the TMC.

Source: scroll.in