The Trinamool Congress (TMC) faces a severe internal crisis in 2026, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee losing her seat of power and a significant number of party legislators and parliamentarians defecting, creating three distinct factions led by Mamata, Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of Opposition with over 60 MLAs, and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar with 19 Lok Sabha MPs, while three Rajya Sabha MPs have resigned and Mamata's close aide has issued an ultimatum to choose between him and Abhishek Banerjee, whom many criticize for his "arrogance." Adding to the turmoil, the party symbol is contested as Lok Sabha MPs claim majority status in a separate faction potentially supporting the NDA, while rebel MLAs will not back the BJP, leaving Mamata with dwindling options, including speculation about a merger with the Congress following a meeting with INDIA bloc leaders, and a disconnect from the party's founding ideology of 'Maa Maati Manush' due to alleged corruption and a loss of grassroots connection.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) faces a severe internal crisis in 2026, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee losing her seat of power and a significant number of party legislators and parliamentarians defecting, creating three distinct factions led by Mamata, Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of Opposition with over 60 MLAs, and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar with 19 Lok Sabha MPs, while three Rajya Sabha MPs have resigned and Mamata's close aide has issued an ultimatum to choose between him and Abhishek Banerjee, whom many criticize for his "arrogance." Adding to the turmoil, the party symbol is contested as Lok Sabha MPs claim majority status in a separate faction potentially supporting the NDA, while rebel MLAs will not back the BJP, leaving Mamata with dwindling options, including speculation about a merger with the Congress following a meeting with INDIA bloc leaders, and a disconnect from the party's founding ideology of 'Maa Maati Manush' due to alleged corruption and a loss of grassroots connection.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) faces a severe internal crisis in 2026, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee losing her seat of power and a significant number of party legislators and parliamentarians defecting, creating three distinct factions led by Mamata, Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of Opposition with over 60 MLAs, and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar with 19 Lok Sabha MPs, while three Rajya Sabha MPs have resigned and Mamata's close aide has issued an ultimatum to choose between him and Abhishek Banerjee, whom many criticize for his "arrogance." Adding to the turmoil, the party symbol is contested as Lok Sabha MPs claim majority status in a separate faction potentially supporting the NDA, while rebel MLAs will not back the BJP, leaving Mamata with dwindling options, including speculation about a merger with the Congress following a meeting with INDIA bloc leaders, and a disconnect from the party's founding ideology of 'Maa Maati Manush' due to alleged corruption and a loss of grassroots connection.

When Mamata Banerjee embarked on her dream of founding Trinamool Congress (TMC) in 1998, the supremo was determined to oust the Left Front government in West Bengal. Her mighty dream came to fruition, but never did Mamata imagine the legacy she built, would come tumbling down like a pack of cards, in the manner it has in 2026.

Losing her seat of power after three terms as chief minister, is not the biggest loss for Mamata, but it is her party legislators and parliamentarians leaving the supremo’s side en masse. Abhishek Banerjee is the epicentre of the TMC supremo’s political dilemma, as her party leaders openly speak about the growing dissent against his manner of steering the TMC’s sinking ship.

Despite the antagonism towards Abhishek, the second in command in the TMC remains the national general secretary even after the split in the party into three camps. One is the outnumbered Mamata, Abhishek and select MLAs and MP camp, the second consists of more than 60 MLAs who stand by Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of Opposition (LoP) and the third camp are the 19 Lok Sabha MPs led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar. Three Rajya Sabha MPs, meanwhile, have resigned. Mamata close aide Kalyan Banerjee too has given her an ultimatum to choose between him and Abhishek, citing the latter’s “arrogance” towards senior party leaders who have stood by Mamata through decades.

Rapid developments within the TMC leave Mamata with the Congress as a ray of hope – her Delhi meeting with INDIA bloc leaders led by Sonia Gandhi culminating into a hug. Was it a warm hug? Whether or not it was, the portrayal of bonhomie raised speculation of Congress extending a merger proposal of both parties. Uncertainty still looms large over the two joining hands. What other choices does Mamata have?

The TMC party symbol is at stake as Lok Sabha MPs write to the speaker claiming to be a separate faction and that they are the real TMC with majority numbers and hence, the symbol belongs to their faction. This faction is likely to extend their support to NDA, without joining the party. The rebel MLAs, however, will not support the BJP. The West Bengal Assembly speaker has accepted the resolution naming Ritabrata Banerjee as LoP, while the decision of the Lok Sabha speaker is still awaited.

In a complex political scenario, how does the TMC function going forward as three camps with different thought processes? What happens to a common political ideology of ‘Maa Maati Manush’ that TMC stood for? The TMC once symbolised a party that understood the social and cultural ethos of the grassroots, which over recent years was marred by corruption within the rank and file, drawing public ire. The pathos of TMC is disconnect with the grassroots, the downtrodden that Mamata walked shoulder to shoulder with.

Today, Mamata walks with fewer number of supporters by her side, as she looks over her shoulder at past mistakes and a forgotten path, as a chief minister who was once the pride of Bengal.

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