Another Rebellion in TMC?

Troubles continue for Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) after the election defeat in West Bengal. On Monday, 70 TMC councillors from three districts, including at least 50 from Kolkata Municipal Corporation, held a meeting with rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee.

Former Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, considered close to Mamata Banerjee, was also present in the meeting. This has sparked speculation of a possible larger rebellion.

Earlier, 64 out of 80 TMC MLAs and 20 out of 28 MPs had rebelled. The rebel MLAs have got recognition as a separate group under Ritabrata Banerjee in the assembly, who has also been recognised as Leader of Opposition. The Calcutta High Court rejected TMC’s plea to stay this decision.

Firhad Hakim, a senior TMC leader and former minister, resigned as Mayor recently and has been seen with rebel leaders on multiple occasions.