Embattled Trinamool Congress (TMC) president and former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday termed the social gathering’s rebels as “traitors” and asserted that she would proceed to guide the TMC and would favor social gathering staff to such leaders.
“I do not care. I ignore all those that are gone. For me, staff are extra vital than leaders. They’re traitors. If such traitors have braveness, go to the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering. Do you suppose I’m lifeless? TM Are the C staff lifeless? Those that left had numerous baggage and property to save lots of. Now we have TMC households to save lots of,” Mamata, 71, stated in a speech through Fb Stay.
Mamata’s harsh remarks got here hours after her shut aide and former minister Chandrima Bhattacharya resigned from all posts within the TMC, and only a month after she was appointed to go the Bengal unit after the social gathering break up following its disastrous defeat within the latest meeting elections.
“I hereby tender my resignation from the submit of State President of the All India Trinamool Congress conferred upon me at its assembly at Kalighat on March 6, 2026. I additionally hereby resign from all different posts at present held by me. Please be aware that I’m withdrawing my standing as a licensed signatory of the All India Trinamool Congress and all different affiliated organizations in respect of the account.” I additionally withdraw myself from being your approved individual within the Election Fee of India. ”
Instantly after his resignation, Bhattacharya went to the state meeting premises and took half in a gathering with TMC rebels together with Chief of Opposition (LoP) Ritavrata Banerjee, Firhad Hakim and Sandipan Saha, hinting at a doable swap to the TMC camp.
Social gathering sources stated Mr Bhattacharya was on the social gathering headquarters Trinamool Bhawan in Kolkata on Friday night time and left minutes after insurgent MLAs stormed in to occupy the workplace. They exchanged the keys of the workplace and put up a banner there declaring Arop Roy as TMC chairman as an alternative of Mamata. Sources stated Mamata was offended at Bhattacharya’s “lack of resistance”.
On Thursday, the Ritabrata faction met the Election Fee (EC) in Delhi and staked its declare to the social gathering by calling itself the “actual Trinamool”.
Hitting again on the TMC rebels, Mamata stated, “They’re making an attempt to get the social gathering image. They are going to by no means get it. Bear in mind, you contested the polls over a logo that I signed. You contested on behalf of the social gathering that I based. We are going to battle even when the EC, working for the BJP, provides them the image. The persons are with us.”
Referring to Bhattacharya’s resignation, Mamata stated, “She had stated that she would resign a couple of days in the past. Earlier than that, her son (Sourav Basu, former MP) joined arms with them (rebels). I’m not involved about it.” “It is solely been two months (since TMC’s ballot defeat). You’ve gotten little or no endurance. You had been MLAs and ministers for 15 years. Now you’re rebels. Why did not you do this?” he added. Rebels earlier than voting? ”
Mamata additionally introduced that she would personally oversee the Bengal social gathering unit to any extent further. “We are going to embody Kunal Ghosh and Madan Mitra as the 2 state common secretaries. I’m the social gathering president and also will handle the state,” she stated.
On the TMC rebels’ try and “seize” the social gathering headquarters, she stated, “We paid the hire for the constructing, which was Rs 100,000 a month. Some individuals say they’ve signed an settlement, however they had been requested to take action by the social gathering. Now we have rented it until October 2027. However they (rebels) got here and locked it.”
A defiant Mamata additionally stated that her home at 30B Harish Chatterjee Road will now turn into the TMC headquarters.
Mamata attacked the Suvendu Adhikari-led Bharatiya Janata Social gathering authorities over what she known as “Rashtriya Santra (state terrorism)” and alleged that it was submitting false circumstances to arrest TMC leaders and workers.
“Mahua (Moitra) was attacked, Abhishek (Banerjee) was attacked, Kalyan (Banerjee) was attacked. Our staff had been compelled from their properties,” she stated.
“You’re the Chief Minister. However you had been within the Congress. You had been within the Trinamool Congress for 10 or 11 years. You’re the TMC You had been the Minister for Irrigation and Transport. Cease indulging within the atrocities towards our staff. There might be repercussions for each motion. Run the federal government correctly.
She additionally known as on TMC staff to commemorate the social gathering’s July 21 ‘Martyrs Day’ occasion. “We commemorate July 21 yearly. This time the police have issued prohibitory orders in central Kolkata. Will political events not implement the plan? Now we have requested permission from the police however they won’t give it. However we’ll implement the plan even when we’re standing on a rickshaw,” Mamata stated. “I’ll face any difficulties with a smile. I do know what the battle is and I’ll proceed to do it. I’ll dwell lengthy and our battle will proceed.”
Chandrima strikes a blow
Chandrima Bhattacharya (70), as soon as an vital face of Mamata’s Ladies’s Brigade in Bengal, is her long-time colleague and served as Minister of State (MoS) within the earlier TMC authorities, holding a number of posts together with the Ministry of Finance (Unbiased Cost), Ministry of Well being, Ministry of Household Welfare and Ministry of Land Reforms. A distinguished chief of TMC, she additionally headed the ladies’s wing.
Bhattacharya’s resignation comes at a time when Mamata is being cornered politically by the rebels, deepening the disaster gripping the TMC as 60 of Ritabrata’s 80 MLAs stake their factional claims over the social gathering’s title, election symbols and financial institution accounts.
Twenty of the TMC’s 28 MPs, led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, additionally left the social gathering and merged with a little-known outfit, the Nationalist Residents Social gathering of India (NCPI).
“In case your loyalty is questioned, there isn’t any option to keep. There isn’t a level in staying. It does not matter whether or not you come again or not,” Bhattacharya advised reporters after resigning.
Concentrating on Mamata, Bhattacharya stated, “I used to be advised that I had allowed them (rebels) to occupy the social gathering workplace. After listening to all the things, I can’t keep right here. I contemplate myself a failure.”
Though she misplaced the Dumdum Uttar seat within the latest Bengal elections and isn’t at present an MLA, the TMC insurgent camp welcomed her determination. “She may be very welcome. She couldn’t bear the insult and left the scene. She is with us and we’re the opposition,” Sandipan Saha stated.
TMC insiders admit that her departure was a serious setback for the Mamata faction. “Mamata and her appointment as TMC chief is surprising. Chandrima was the state social gathering president… Insurgent MLAs who’ve declared their very own nationwide working committee with Arup Roy as chairman are vying for social gathering symbols and funds earlier than the EC. They are going to goal to make use of Chandrima to their benefit,” stated a senior official from Mamata’s camp.
