Mamata Banerjee has weathered many political storms over her decades-long career. But the crisis unfolding within Trinamool Congress in June 2026 may be the most serious test she has ever faced.
The political storm within the Trinamool Congress showed no signs of easing as a growing number of party MPs were named as part of an expanding dissident camp that has openly challenged the party leadership. The rebellion came barely weeks after the TMC lost power in West Bengal.
At the centre of the drama is a stunning defection — Saayoni Ghosh, the Jadavpur MP who had once been among Mamata’s most passionate cheerleaders, publicly pitching her as a future Prime Minister, now appears to have switched sides. Sources suggest she has joined the rebel bloc of 20 Lok Sabha MPs who wrote to the Speaker offering to back the NDA — a move that sent shockwaves through the party.
She is not alone. Mala Roy, a close Mamata confidant, also reportedly flew to Delhi to join the rebel camp. And cricketer-turned-politician Yusuf Pathan is among the names circulating in dissident circles.
The Rebellion Runs Deep
The rebellion gathered momentum as more voices joined in. Former Kolkata mayor and senior Trinamool legislator Firhad Hakim met rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee inside the Assembly, triggering speculation that more MLAs could follow. Hakim was long regarded as one of Mamata’s closest aides.
A parallel rebellion also emerged inside the West Bengal Assembly, with expelled TMC MLA Ritabrata Banerjee forming a separate faction backed by 58 MLAs, who later elected him as their Leader of Opposition.
For Mamata, the coming weeks may determine whether she can regain control of the TMC or whether the post-election rebellion develops into a broader battle over the party’s symbol and legacy.
From being Bengal’s unquestioned “Didi” to fighting for the soul of her own party — Mamata Banerjee’s political journey has reached its most defining crossroads yet.
