Overview
- On Tuesday July 14 senior figures including Rabindranath Ghosh publicly joined the Ritabrata Banerjee-led revolt and called for Abhishek Banerjee to be taken out of active politics to restore unity.
- The rebel camp has set up parallel state and district committees, elected Arup Roy as its chair, and claims the support of a large legislative bloc that has already cost the Mamata-led leadership organisational control.
- Around 20 of TMC’s 28 Lok Sabha MPs have reportedly broken away to merge with the NCPI and back the NDA in Parliament, a move that has widened the rupture beyond state politics.
- Senior MPs have blamed Abhishek’s Camac Street office and the consultant I-PAC for hollowing out party organisation, and some leaders allege unverified coercion by aides tied to Abhishek to force defections.
- The dispute will be fought through formal channels next, with both camps contesting recognition at the Election Commission, separate July 21 observances planned, and public polls showing most voters do not expect Mamata Banerjee to punish her nephew.