In a significant development in West Bengal’s political landscape, senior All India Trinamool Congress leader Chandrima Bhattacharya stepped down as the party’s state president on Saturday, intensifying speculation over the deepening internal crisis within the erstwhile ruling party.

Bhattacharya’s resignation comes in the wake of the party’s poor performance in the recent Assembly elections and a series of organisational changes initiated by party chief Mamata Banerjee. She had been appointed to the post following a reshuffle that replaced Subrata Bakshi, as part of efforts to stabilise the party structure.

Until Friday afternoon, Bhattacharya—who also served as Finance Minister in Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet—had been actively performing her duties, regularly visiting the Trinamool Bhavan on the EM Bypass. However, her decision to step down on Saturday has added fresh uncertainty to the party’s leadership dynamics.

Organisational overhaul and power shifts

The resignation follows a broader attempt by Mamata Banerjee to reassert control after the electoral setback. The party leadership had dissolved all existing committees and initiated a comprehensive restructuring process. A new organisational blueprint was finalised during a National Working Committee meeting at Kalighat on June 5.

At that meeting, Bhattacharya was appointed state president, while the powers of party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee were reportedly curtailed, signalling a significant internal power shift.

Factional rift widens

Despite these measures, divisions within the party have continued to widen. Factions led by Ritabrata Banerjee in the Assembly and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar in the Lok Sabha have broken away from the main organisation.

Several MPs, including Kakoli, have aligned with the Tripura-based NCPI, while the Ritabrata faction has approached the Election Commission of India, claiming to represent the “real” Trinamool Congress.

The Election Commission has asked both factions to submit their positions, setting a deadline for early next week. The move is seen as a crucial step in determining the legitimacy of competing claims within the party.

Political tensions escalated further in Kolkata on Friday when members of the rebel faction, including Firhad Hakim, visited the Trinamool Bhavan shortly after returning from Delhi. After spending time inside, they reportedly locked the premises before leaving.

The incident triggered a sharp response from the Kalighat leadership, which subsequently lodged a police complaint against those involved.

Uncertain road ahead

Since the electoral setback, a steady stream of leaders, MLAs, and MPs have distanced themselves from the Mamata Banerjee-led faction. While some have joined the Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar camp, others in the Assembly appear to be gravitating towards the Ritabrata Banerjee faction.

Bhattacharya’s resignation has further fuelled speculation about the party’s future trajectory. Political observers note that it remains unclear whether she will align with any of the emerging factions or mark the beginning of a new phase in the ongoing fragmentation of the Trinamool Congress.

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