Trinamool Congress suffered another blow on Wednesday after senior leader Madan Mitra left the party leadership's fold and joined the rebel faction headed by Ritabrata Banerjee, deepening the political crisis within the organisation.
Addressing reporters after joining the rebel camp, the Kamarhati MLA described the Trinamool Congress as a "fragmented" party while insisting that his move did not amount to abandoning the organisation altogether.
"I have only changed my room, not my house. I am very much in the TMC," he told reporters after joining the rebel camp.
Mitra's departure comes barely two weeks after Mamata Banerjee appointed him as the party's general secretary in the aftermath of the Trinamool Congress' defeat in the May Assembly elections. His exit also follows the recent resignation of Chandrima Bhattacharya from the post of the party's West Bengal president.
Mitra was among the 80 Trinamool candidates who secured victory in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. He successfully retained the Kamarhati constituency even as the BJP registered a sweeping victory, winning 208 of the state's 294 Assembly seats and forming the government in West Bengal for the first time.
One of the party's most recognisable leaders, Mitra has been associated with the Trinamool Congress since its formation in 1998 and is widely known in the state's political landscape for his flamboyant public persona.
The latest development adds to a series of setbacks faced by Mamata Banerjee following the Trinamool Congress' electoral defeat. After serving as chief minister for three consecutive terms since 2011, Banerjee also lost her own Assembly seat to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who subsequently became the state's chief minister.
The party's internal rift widened after Ritabrata Banerjee led a rebellion that he claims is backed by 58 Trinamool MLAs. During a special session held last month, the rebel faction removed Mamata Banerjee as the party's chairperson and elected Arup Roy to the position.
Ritabrata Banerjee has also been named the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly.
The dissident group has approached the Election Commission seeking recognition as the "real" Trinamool Congress.
The split has also extended to Parliament, with 20 of the party's 28 Lok Sabha MPs breaking away and backing the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after merging with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI).
