Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee has suffered a major setback in West Bengal. West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rabindra Nath Bose has officially recognized Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition.
Mamata Banerjee had previously declared Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of the Opposition. This move subsequently triggered a rebellion within the party; 60 out of the 80 legislators refused to accept Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of the Opposition.
Following this, a group of 60 legislators, led by Ritabrata Banerjee, met with Speaker Rabindra Nath Bose, asserting that they constituted the authentic faction of the TMC and requesting that Ritabrata Banerjee be officially recognized as the Leader of the Opposition. After considering the legislators' appeal, the Speaker granted official recognition to Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition.
The Speaker has handed over the keys to the Leader of the Opposition's chamber to Ritabrata Banerjee. Four Deputy Leaders of the Opposition have been appointed within this TMC faction. They are Javed Ahmed Khan, Sabina Yasmin, Shilu Saha, and Sandipan Saha. Akhruzzaman will serve as the TMC's Chief Whip in the House. The Speaker's decision makes it clear that he has recognized the TMC faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee as the legitimate Trinamool Congress.
Why Did Mamata Banerjee Suspend Ritabrata Banerjee from the TMC?
It is noteworthy that, following the declaration of election results, Mamata Banerjee had suspended Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Shah from the TMC on grounds of anti-party activities. Subsequently, Ritabrata Banerjee openly rebelled against Mamata Banerjee.
After being elected as the Leader of the Opposition, Ritabrata Banerjee stated that 60 of their MLAs currently stand with them. He affirmed that they would fulfill the role of the opposition and engage in constructive politics. However, Ritabrata Banerjee refrained from explicitly opposing Mamata Banerjee, asserting that Mamata Banerjee remains their leader and appealing to her to continue providing them with guidance. Ritabrata Banerjee described this move as a collective struggle against individualism.
What Did Ritabrata Banerjee Say About Mamata Banerjee?
Ritabrata Banerjee stated, "Our leader is Mamata Banerjee, and we belong to the TMC. It has become a subject of ridicule in society that the TMC does not know how a Leader of the Opposition (LoP) is elected; that is why we have stepped forward to save the party. We appeal to our leader, Mamata Banerjee, to give her consent for this." Ritabrata Banerjee added that Mamata Banerjee serves as their Chief Advisor, and they appeal to her to continue providing them with guidance.
Ritabrata asserted that, if necessary, they would oppose bills, but they would never walk out of the House. He further stated that they would not merely oppose the government but would also commend some of its constructive initiatives.
Why Did Ritabrata Banerjee Take Aim at Abhishek Banerjee?
Ritabrata also launched an attack on Mamata Banerjee's nephew. He pointed out that Abhishek Banerjee is not a member of the Legislative Assembly; therefore, an individual who is not a member cannot write a letter to the Speaker in the manner that was done.
It is worth noting that in May, Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee had sent a letter to the Assembly Speaker. In that letter, he had designated Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of the Opposition, Nayna Bandyopadhyay and Ashima Patra as Deputy Leaders of the Opposition, and Firhad Hakim as the TMC Chief Whip in the Assembly. However, the Speaker did not accord recognition to these appointments. Ritabrata stated that they urge the government to organize an administrative meeting at the district level involving both the administration and the opposition MLAs.
How Did the Trinamool Congress Crumble Within 30 Days?
The results of the 2026 Assembly elections were declared on May 4. Today (Wednesday) is June 3. This means that merely 30 days after losing the election, the TMC has disintegrated. In this election, the BJP secured 207 seats, while the TMC—ousted from power—was reduced to just 80 seats. Following this outcome, widespread discontent spread throughout the party. Immediately after the results were announced, several leaders openly rebelled, placing the responsibility for the defeat squarely on Mamata and Abhishek.
Many leaders have accused Abhishek Banerjee of high-handedness and [mismanaging] organizational... Allegations of failure and unilateral decision-making were leveled. Defeated candidates and local leaders raised questions regarding issues such as corruption, organizational failure, nepotism, and post-poll violence.
Following the electoral defeat, Mamata had appointed her confidant, Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, as the Leader of the Opposition. However, the rebel MLAs refused to recognize him as the Leader of the Opposition. Subsequently, the very MLA against whom Mamata had wielded the disciplinary rod—Ritabrata Banerjee—began leading the rebellion against her. Ultimately, on Wednesday, the Speaker recognized Ritabrata Banerjee's faction as the legitimate TMC.
What is the TMC's numbers game?
In the recent Assembly elections, 80 TMC MLAs emerged victorious. For any form of split or division to occur within the party, the support of two-thirds of the MLAs is mandatory. This figure stands at 53. However, the rebel leader, Ritabrata Banerjee, enjoys the support of 58 to 60 MLAs. Consequently, he appears to be in a legally strong position. On Wednesday, when asked about the allegation that he was attempting to hijack the party, Ritabrata Banerjee stated that he believes in "us," not "me."
Ritabrata Banerjee remarked, "In the 18th West Bengal Legislative Assembly, this strong legislative team of the Trinamool Congress—commanding a two-thirds majority—places its faith in 'us,' not in 'me.' We have adhered to every rule and regulation established; it is for this very reason that we have been recognized as the principal opposition party in the 18th West Bengal Legislative Assembly. We desire that Mamata Banerjee serve as our chief advisor and offer us counsel that further strengthens our standing as the opposition. A total of 80 members were elected under the Trinamool Congress's election symbol." "More than two-thirds of those members submitted their claims, and those claims have been accepted."
It is worth noting that Mamata Banerjee had dissolved all TMC committees and frontal organizations just this Wednesday.
**Firhad Hakim's Resignation**
Meanwhile, senior Trinamool Congress leader Firhad Hakim has resigned from the post of Mayor of Kolkata. Party chief Mamata Banerjee has accepted his request to step down.
Hakim—who is one of the party's most prominent leaders and a close aide to Banerjee—had earlier sought permission from the TMC chief to resign from this position. He cited the difficulties he was facing in the discharge of his duties following the BJP's rise to power in West Bengal.
This development unfolds amidst growing uncertainty within the Trinamool Congress and a series of resignations tendered by party councilors at the Kolkata Municipal Corporation in recent weeks.
Hakim's resignation is being viewed as a blow to the TMC. It comes at a time when the party is grappling with internal turmoil following the loss of power in the state.