Mamata Banerjee stays Trinamool chair as rebels name Arup Roy

A rebel faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee convened a special session in Kolkata, elected senior MLA Arup Roy as chairperson of a parallel “real” TMC, appointed Aroop Biswas and others as vice‑chairpersons, and announced the suspension of national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. The faction claims a constitutional crisis because the party’s National Working Committee term expired.

In response, Mamata Banerjee’s loyalists submitted a revised list of office‑bearers and National Working Committee members to the Election Commission, asserting that Banerjee remains party chairperson. The list, dated June 20, 2026, names Subrata Bakshi as vice‑president, Abhishek Banerjee as national general secretary, Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen as joint secretaries, and Subhasish Chakraborty as treasurer, along with a 24‑member committee.

Both camps claim legitimacy, with the rebel group saying around 60‑65 MLAs and numerous councillors support their structure, while the Banerjee camp maintains the party’s official hierarchy. The dispute has prompted disciplinary notices to senior leaders and a broader organisational reset within the TMC, including reduced reliance on external consultancy I‑PAC. The Election Commission’s ruling will determine which structure is recognised.