The Trinamool Congress (TMC) finds itself mired in a deepening political crisis after senior party leader Firhad Hakim was seen meeting rebel MLA and Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee at the West Bengal Assembly on Monday. The development comes amid growing unrest within the party following its defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections and has triggered fresh speculation about shifting loyalties within the TMC.

Hakim’s Assembly Visit Raises Eyebrows

According to reports, Hakim arrived at the Assembly as per his routine schedule and was seated in the lobby when he was approached by Sandipan Saha, a prominent face among the party’s dissenting camp. Saha reportedly escorted Hakim to a separate room before both were seen entering Ritabrata Banerjee’s chamber.

Although Hakim later described the interaction as a simple courtesy visit, political observers view the meeting as significant given the ongoing factional tensions within the ruling party. The visit has fueled speculation over whether Hakim could be moving closer to the rebel camp.

Resignation Adds to Speculation

Questions surrounding Hakim’s political positioning have intensified since his resignation as Mayor of Kolkata on June 5. The timing of the resignation, coupled with his engagement with leaders linked to the dissident faction, has prompted discussions about possible realignments within the TMC.

Ritabrata Banerjee further added to the intrigue by indicating that future meetings with Hakim could take place, though he declined to provide details.

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy Quits TMC

The party suffered another major blow on the same day when veteran Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy announced his resignation. In his letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Roy accused the party of losing public trust due to corruption allegations and governance failures.

He also expressed concern over what he described as deteriorating conditions in key sectors such as education, healthcare, and law enforcement.

Rebel Faction Gains Strength

Amid the turmoil, reports suggest that nearly 20 TMC MPs are working towards forming a separate dissident bloc. The group is believed to support Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar for a more prominent parliamentary leadership role and has raised concerns over the influence of Abhishek Banerjee within the party.

Mamata Moves to Contain Crisis

In response to the escalating dissent, Mamata Banerjee has initiated organizational restructuring within the party. While she has not accepted demands regarding Abhishek Banerjee’s position, the appointment of Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen as additional national general secretaries is being viewed as an attempt to balance competing power centres.

With dissent now spreading beyond West Bengal and into the party’s Delhi unit, the TMC leadership faces one of its most challenging periods in recent years, with uncertainty continuing to cloud its future direction.

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