Mahua Moitra Blames BJP For TMC Split, Calls Rebel MLAs 'Completely Useless'

Last Updated:June 05, 2026, 11:02 IST

The split became official on Wednesday when 58 rebel MLAs took over the legislature wing and elected Ritabrata Banerjee as their leader.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra launched a sharp attack on the rebel legislators who have taken control of the party’s legislature wing, accusing them of surviving on the popularity of party chief Mamata Banerjee and lacking the resolve to remain in the opposition.

Amid the biggest internal crisis in the party’s 28-year history, Moitra alleged that the BJP was behind the split and claimed several MLAs had switched sides under pressure and threats of action by central agencies, Indian Today reported.

“We have had these people who are completely useless, who have been in the party, riding off of Mamata Didi’s charisma and taking advantage of the party. Please go on your own today. Be part of your Ritabrata Congress. Do whatever you have to do," she said, adding, “But don’t call yourself the Trinamool Congress".

The rebellion came to the fore on Wednesday when 58 dissident MLAs took charge of the Trinamool legislature wing, elected expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee as their leader and secured recognition from the West Bengal Assembly Speaker.

Even as the rebel camp declared itself the “real" Trinamool Congress within the Assembly, Ritabrata appealed to former chief minister and party supremo Mamata Banerjee to serve as chief adviser to the newly formed legislature team.

Moitra alleged that the BJP was now attempting to influence not only governments but also opposition leadership in states.

“Please understand that what is happening now, and playing out for all of India to see, is that the BJP has started even wanting to choose the leaders of the opposition. Not content with just breaking parties, they now want to make sure that they pick and choose even the leaders of the opposition in the states that they have won," she alleged further.

She also claimed that the operation to split the party had been carried out with the help of current Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, whom she described as a former Trinamool insider familiar with the vulnerabilities of party legislators.

“He knows exactly what each Achilles’ heel of each MLA is. He has done this operation one-to-one on each MLA. So one MLA, for example, Sabina Yasmin in Motabari, has been told, ‘The NIA will get you for the Motabari violence’. Two other people, Javed Khan, for example, have been told, ‘You will be arrested. Your son will be arrested for the illegal construction in your area’. So each of these people has got some pressure point," the MP alleged.

According to Moitra, years in government had left many legislators unwilling to endure the challenges of opposition politics.

“The problem is, after fifteen years of staying in power, they cannot be in opposition anymore. They have forgotten what it is to be in opposition. They have lost the stomach for a fight. They don’t want to fight the BJP. They don’t want to fight the police. They don’t want ED. They don’t want CBI. They just want to play it safe," she said.

Rejecting suggestions that the party was collapsing, Moitra maintained that the organisation remained firmly centred around Mamata Banerjee and its core leadership.

She said the Trinamool would rebuild if necessary and dismissed concerns that the rebel faction could politically destroy the party by securing recognition from the Election Commission.

“Mamata Banerjee, when she left the Congress, picked up a pen and paper, drew this symbol and got it. A person who can draw her own symbol and fight and become a three-term chief minister will fight and create another symbol."

“We don’t care. They can take any picture. They can take any symbol. They will never be the Trinamool Congress," she added.

Responding to claims by the dissident camp that their revolt was aimed at TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee rather than Mamata Banerjee, Moitra questioned why the legislators had contested elections on Trinamool tickets only weeks ago.

She also defended Abhishek Banerjee against allegations that central agencies were closing in on him and asserted that the party leadership would not bow to pressure.

“Abhishek is a strong man, and he will bear it. His DNA is not to compromise. Whether he goes to jail, whether he does everything, everybody will see what the BJP is doing," she said.

Meanwhile, signs of unease have emerged within the rebel camp itself, with several legislators reportedly insisting that Mamata Banerjee continue as the supreme leader and indicating they may rethink their position if she is reduced to the role of adviser.

News india Mahua Moitra Blames BJP For TMC Split, Calls Rebel MLAs 'Completely Useless'

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