Rebel TMC Faction Removes Mamata Banerjee as Chairperson, Names Arup Roy as New Chief
News Mania Desk/ Piyal Chatterjee/ 23rd June 2026
A major political storm has erupted within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) after a rebel faction of the party announced the removal of Mamata Banerjee as its chairperson and appointed senior MLA Arup Roy to the post. The dramatic move marks the latest escalation in the ongoing power struggle that has engulfed the party following its defeat in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
The decision was taken during a special meeting of rebel MLAs, councillors and former elected representatives held in New Town, Kolkata. The dissident group, led by Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, claimed that it represented the “real” Trinamool Congress and would soon approach the Election Commission to seek recognition as the legitimate party organization.
At the meeting, veteran Howrah Central MLA Arup Roy was elected chairperson through a voice vote. The rebel camp also constituted a new 30-member national working committee comprising several prominent leaders, including Firhad Hakim, Aroop Biswas, Sabina Yasmin, Javed Khan and Sandipan Saha. Ritabrata Banerjee was named one of the general secretaries of the newly formed structure.
The rebel leaders argued that the party was facing a “constitutional crisis,” claiming that the organizational structure had not been renewed after its term expired. They accused the existing leadership of failing to maintain proper internal democratic procedures and said the new committee was necessary to restore legitimacy within the party.
The move represents a direct challenge to Mamata Banerjee, who founded the Trinamool Congress in 1998 and led it to power in West Bengal for more than a decade. However, the party’s official leadership rejected the rebels’ claims and reaffirmed that Mamata Banerjee remains the legitimate chief of the organization. In response to the rebellion, the TMC submitted a fresh list of office-bearers to the Election Commission, asserting that the party remains united under her leadership.
