Trinamool Congress internal feud intensifies in West Bengal

Rival factions of West Bengal’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) clashed over a 91‑page letter written by MLA Kunal Ghosh during his imprisonment in the Saradha chit‑fund case. Rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee alleged the letter, addressed to the Prime Minister, Home Minister and CBI director, contained accusations against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and threatened to split the party. Ghosh denied any intent to leave the party, describing the document as his "famous letter" and said he remained a member. The dispute also spilled into attempts to organise the July 21 Martyrs’ Day programme, with both factions seeking police permission for separate venues.

The West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee accused the factionalism of being orchestrated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to create a shadow opposition in the state, noting the TMC’s recent electoral defeat and BJP’s nomination of former TMC leaders for three Rajya Sabha seats. Congress leader Subhankar Sarkar framed the internal turmoil as part of a broader strategy to keep TMC relevant and undermine Congress.

These developments reflect escalating intra‑party tensions within TMC and a contested narrative about external political influence in West Bengal’s state politics.