Fresh blow to Mamata as Trinamool’s Bengal chief quits hours after rebels seize party HQ

Kolkata: The crisis in the Trinamool Congress escalated as its newly elected West Bengal president, Chandrima Bhattacharya, resigned from the post on Saturday, citing a loss of trust after being questioned by party chairperson and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the takeover of the party headquarters by the rebel group.

Speaking to a section of the media, Bhattacharya said her decision to quit as state party chief was prompted after Mamata Banerjee questioned her over the rebel MLAs’ group led by Ritabrata Banerjee taking control of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) headquarters at Metropolitan, adjacent to the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass in Kolkata, on Friday night.

“After that incident on Friday, Mamata Banerjee questioned how I could hand over the party office to the rebel camp. I was so sad about this question. I even asked her how she could think of that. Thereafter, I felt that when questions are being raised about my integrity, it would not be right for me to continue in the party’s top post. I may have been harsh to many people at times, but my loyalty was unquestionable. So, with a heavy heart, I have decided to quit. There is no question of going to Kalighat again,” Bhattacharya said.

Bhattacharya, who served as Minister of State for Finance (Independent Charge) in the previous Mamata-led government, conveyed her resignation through a letter addressed to Mamata. Besides stepping down as the state president, she also resigned from all other party responsibilities and relinquished her authority as an authorised signatory of the All India Trinamool Congress and its affiliated organisations.

“Respected Didi, I hereby tender my resignation from the post of state president of All India Trinamool Congress, which had been conferred on me at the meeting held at Kalighat on 03.06.2026. I also hereby resign from all other posts that I presently hold. Please note that I withdraw myself as the authorised signatory of All India Trinamool Congress and all other related organisations in respect of the accounts maintained in various banks,” the letter read.

In the letter, Bhattacharya also informed the party chief that she was withdrawing as the authorised representative of the TMC before the Election Commission of India (ECI).

“At the end, I would like to state that I have the highest regard for you and will always remain respectful towards you,” the letter concluded.

Bhattacharya’s resignation comes days after her son, Saurav, a former TMC councillor in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, joined the “rebel but majority” faction of the TMC Legislature Party in the West Bengal Assembly led by expelled rebel MLA Banerjee.

His move had fuelled speculation that Bhattacharya too might distance herself from the Mamata Banerjee-led camp. However, at the time of filing this report, she had not clarified whether she would join the rebel faction, switch to another political party, or take a break from active politics.

IANS