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Only 35 of 80 TMC MLAs joined a protest in the West Bengal Assembly, sparking speculation over internal rifts as the party struggles to regroup after its poll defeat
TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, left, speaks during a meeting with the Legal Cell, in Kalighat, West Bengal. (Source: PTI)
The absence of nearly 50% of Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislators from the first major protest programme of the party on Wednesday triggered fresh political chatter about the possibility of the party falling apart after facing a humiliating defeat in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls after remaining in power for 15 years.
The MLAs skipped the protest a day after the party had reportedly discussed internally the need to return to street politics.
TMC MLAs Skip Sit-In Against ‘Post-Poll Violence’
Some of the TMC MLAs organised a sit-in near the Ambedkar statue on the assembly premises to protest against “post-poll violence” and hawker eviction drives.
This protest marked the first coordinated agitation of the party after it moved from power to opposition.
The protest was organised over alleged post-poll violence, eviction and use of bulldozers to demolish buildings.
The MLAs who participated included Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, Nayana Banerjee, Kunal Ghosh and Ritabrata Banerjee.
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However, out of the 80 MLAs, only 35 MLAs took part in the protest, which soon fuelled speculations in political circles about cracks within the organisation when the party is trying to regroup after facing an electoral setback.
Can TMC Transit From Ruling Force To Opposition Outfit?
According to political observers, the relatively thin attendance at TMC’s first major protest after the polls has inevitably raised questions over how smoothly the party can transition from being a long-entrenched ruling force to an opposition outfit.
They believe that the issue may just not be the thin attendance at the protest but the kind of message such optics send in the political circle at a time when the party is trying to rebuild its organisational confidence after the poll setback.
Senior TMC MLA Sovandeb Chattopadhyay dismissed the rumours of internal discord and attributed the absence of MLAs to logistical constraints and organisational responsibilities.
“Around 35 MLAs were present at the programme today. As the legislators are busy with workers in many post-poll violence-affected areas, many couldn’t come. And then the programme was held at a day’s notice, so it was a problem for MLAs who stay in far-flung areas to turn up,” he said, while speaking to PTI.
Can TMC Revive Itself After Poll Debacle?
However, the optics of the protest had significance because it came a day after the party held a key meeting at Kalighat, where, as per the party sources, several legislators had raised concerns that TMC cannot revive itself through strategy sessions only and will need to reconnect with people through on-ground mobilisation.
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According to the party sources, party supremo Mamata Banerjee and national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had attended Tuesday’s meeting where some MLAs raised concern over the perceived absence of the party leadership from street agitation following the poll defeat.
Some legislators reportedly also said that “holding meetings inside closed rooms” would not help a party which is trying to recover lost political ground.
As per the sources, the discussions at Kalighat also reflected concerns of some sections of the party over the post-poll political approach of the leadership.
Against this political backdrop, Wednesday’s protest assumed significance beyond concerns over post-poll violence and anti-encroachment measures.
For the TMC, mass movements and street protests have long been integral to its political strategy. From the Singur and Nandigram agitations to sustained campaigns against the Left Front government, the party has historically relied on public mobilisations to strengthen its political narrative and connect with voters.
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