TMC Power Struggle Reaches EC As Rebel Camp Challenges Mamata's Leadership, Stakes Claim Over Party

Last Updated:July 02, 2026, 12:45 IST

The dissident camp claims majority support among TMC legislators and has asked the Election Commission to recognise its new leadership and organisational structure.

The battle for control of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) reached the Election Commission (EC) on Thursday, with a 10-member delegation of rebel leaders meeting the poll panel to seek recognition for a newly constituted national leadership and organisational structure, deepening the political crisis within the West Bengal-based party.

The delegation is expected to urge the Election Commission to recognise the new national executive announced by the dissident faction and acknowledge it as the “real" Trinamool Congress.

The rebels had claimed to have constituted a new national executive during a delegate session held in Kolkata on June 22.

According to the dissident camp, the organisational overhaul followed what it described as a “constitutional crisis" within the party.

The rebels argued that the tenure of the previous National Working Committee (NWC), constituted in February 2022, had expired, necessitating the election of a fresh leadership.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the meeting, West Bengal Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee said the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) held a delegate session in Kolkata on June 22, 2026, during which the party elected its new chairperson and deputy chairperson and constituted a new National Working Committee.

Banerjee said the details of the organisational changes had already been submitted to the Election Commission in both Kolkata and New Delhi.

He added that the party had requested a meeting with the full bench of the Commission, including the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners.

The meeting assumes significance as rival factions within the TMC continue to stake competing claims over the party’s organisational structure and political identity.

REBELS CLAIM SUPPORT OF MAJORITY OF MLAs

The rebel faction has claimed that the internal crisis escalated after the TMC’s defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections, alleging that a majority of the party’s legislators have distanced themselves from the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

According to the dissidents, more than 50 of the party’s 80 MLAs have broken ranks with the Mamata Banerjee-led leadership.

They later put the figure at 58 MLAs and announced support for Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.

The faction also announced a new 30-member National Working Committee.

The rebels have maintained that these developments justify their claim to represent the legitimate organisational leadership of the party.

TMC ASSERTS MAMATA CONTINUES TO HEAD PARTY

The Mamata Banerjee-led camp, however, has rejected the parallel organisational exercise and moved swiftly to assert its claim before the Election Commission.

According to PTI, days after the TMC submitted a fresh list of its office bearers and National Working Committee members to the poll body, the rebel MLAs sought recognition for their faction as the “real" TMC.

Seeking to pre-empt the dissidents’ move, the ruling faction informed the Election Commission that Mamata Banerjee continues to head the party and that the Trinamool Congress remains a functioning organisation under her leadership.

Senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh also rejected the delegate session organised by the rebels, saying the dissidents had no authority to convene such a meeting or alter the party’s organisational structure.

The Election Commission has not yet initiated formal proceedings on the competing claims.

“No decision has been taken. No communication has been sent to the two groups," an EC functionary told PTI.

The poll panel is expected to examine the submissions made by the rebel delegation before deciding on the next course of action.

About the Author

Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

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