Rebel TMC MLAs elect Arup Roy as national chairperson, a post held by Mamata

The battle inside the Trinamool Congress has moved from a legislative revolt to a full organisational challenge, with the Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel bloc naming senior MLA Arup Roy as chairperson of what it called the “real” TMC. The move directly contests Mamata Banerjee’s authority over the party she founded and has led for decades.

The faction also announced the suspension of national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee after setting up a parallel national working committee. The decision signals that the dissident camp is no longer limiting its challenge to Assembly leadership posts, but is now claiming control over the party’s structure, finances and constitutional legitimacy.

The announcements followed a separate meeting of rebel Trinamool MLAs, councillors and former elected representatives at a five-star hotel in New Town. Those present included Arup Roy, Firhad Hakim, Arup Biswas, Javed Khan, Sandipan Saha, Asim Bose, Jui Biswas and Tarak Singh, along with representatives from Kolkata, Howrah, Murshidabad, Berhampore and other districts.