West Bengal TMC internal feud escalates as rebel faction seizes party headquarters

A dissident group of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by opposition leader Ritabrata Banerjee took control of the party’s metropolitan headquarters in Kolkata on July 3, 2026. The faction changed the locks, replaced the party’s signage and installed a banner naming senior MLA Arup Roy as the new chairman, while claiming the building’s lease had expired.

The takeover prompted a heavy deployment of CRPF and Kolkata police. West Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh described the episode as an “internal matter” and said any disputes over the headquarters and assembly seats would be resolved by the speaker and the law. The Election Commission has asked both factions to submit their organisational claims by July 6.

TMC loyalists, who continue to support chief minister Mamata Banerjee, have filed police complaints, alleging an attempt to seize the party office. Kolkata police said they will verify ownership and lease documents before allowing political activity to resume at the premises.