The Trinamool Congress suffered another major blow on Saturday as its West Bengal president, Chandrima Bhattacharya, stepped down from all party positions, adding to the mounting troubles facing party chief Mamata Banerjee.
Bhattacharya had assumed charge as the party's state president after the Assembly election defeat, replacing Subrata Bakshi. Her appointment followed Mamata Banerjee's decision on June 3 to dissolve all organisational committees and overhaul the party structure in the wake of the electoral setback against the BJP.
In her resignation letter, Bhattacharya wrote, "I hereby tender my resignation from the post of State President of All India Trinamool Congress, which was conferred on me in the meeting at Kalighat on 03.06.2025. I also hereby resign from all other posts which I hold at present."
She further stated, "Please note that I withdraw myself as the authorised signatory of All India Trinamool Congress and all other related organisations in respect of the accounts maintained in various banks. I also withdraw myself from being your authorised person before the Election Commission of India."
Bhattacharya concluded her letter by expressing that she would always hold Mamata Banerjee in the highest regard.
A former West Bengal minister, Chandrima Bhattacharya has long been regarded as one of Mamata Banerjee's closest associates.
The resignation comes at a time when the Trinamool Congress is grappling with an unprecedented internal crisis following its Assembly election defeat. The party has witnessed a large-scale rebellion, with a majority of its 80 MLAs breaking away to form a separate faction under the leadership of Ritabrata Banerjee. Adding to the turmoil, 20 Trinamool MPs have also revolted, announcing their support for the NDA after merging with the relatively little-known NCPI.
The latest development follows dramatic scenes at the party's Kolkata headquarters on Friday, where rival groups battled for control of the organisation's central office.
Political tensions escalated after the rebel faction occupied Trinamool Bhavan, changed the building's locks, installed a new signboard naming Arup Roy as the party chairman, and asserted that it was the "Real TMC" before the Election Commission.
Leaders aligned with Mamata Banerjee subsequently arrived at Trinamool Bhavan and lodged police complaints over the takeover. The confrontation prompted authorities to deploy heavy contingents of the CRPF and Kolkata Police around the party headquarters.
