The Trinamool Congress (TMC), currently facing a major internal crisis, has dissolved all its organizing committees in West Bengal and announced a comprehensive review of the party structure.
In a statement posted on X, the party said all the committees in West Bengal, besides those of its front organisations, have been dissolved with immediate effect.
The statement said, “The party will conduct a comprehensive introspection exercise, performance review, and organizational evaluation at all levels. Based on the results of this exercise, the organizational structure of the parent body and all front organizations will be reshaped and announced at the appropriate time.”
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The party did not specify the reasons behind this step. However, the decision comes amid mounting turmoil within the organization, including controversy over the fake signature and open rebellion by a large section of its lawmakers.
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The crisis deepened on Wednesday when 59 rebel TMC MLAs arrived at the West Bengal Assembly in Kolkata to claim that they are the main opposition group, thrusting the Mamata Banerjee-led faction into an unprecedented political challenge.
The dissident camp includes former ministers Javed Ahmed Khan, Arup Roy, Chandranath Sinha and Sabina Yasmin. Many of the 59 lawmakers are facing investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
“Let us hold our meeting. We have more than two-thirds of the assembly members with us,” Sandipan Saha, a member of parliament from Entali, said before entering the assembly headquarters.
The TMC on Monday expelled Saha and Ritabrata Banerjee, who are leading the rebellion, over alleged anti-party activities. Banerjee arrived in Parliament on Wednesday carrying a letter signed by the dissident lawmakers in support of their demands.
To escape action under the anti-defection law, 52 legislators were asked to sign a letter to Assembly Speaker Rathendra Bose. The number of representatives of the Transitional Military Council decreased to 78 after the two expulsions. At least 57 had agreed to split the party by Tuesday afternoon. The number rose to 59 on Wednesday morning.
Signs of division were evident when only 69 out of 80 TMC legislators attended the first legislative party meeting at Mamata Banerjee’s residence on May 6. The number dropped to 64 on May 19 and only 19 on May 31.
