Trinamool Congress Bengal chief Chandrima Bhattacharya resigns amid party turmoil

Chandrima Bhattacharya, appointed West Bengal state president of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on June 3 following the party’s defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections, stepped down after barely a month in office. In a resignation letter to party leader Mamata Banerjee, she relinquished the state presidency, her authority as the authorised signatory for the party’s bank accounts, and her role as Banerjee’s representative before the Election Commission of India.

Bhattacharya said the decision was prompted by a phone admonishment from Banerjee, accusing her of allowing a rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee to seize control of the party’s Trinamool Bhavan headquarters. She expressed hurt over the accusation and said her loyalty had been shaken. Her son, former Kolkata municipal councillor Sourav Basu, had recently joined the rebel camp, adding to speculation about growing fissures within the Mamata‑led faction. The resignation intensifies internal disputes as the TMC seeks to reorganise after its electoral loss.