Last Updated:
Madan Mitra resigned from the Mamata Banerjee-led party and joined the rebel faction headed by Ritabrata Banerjee criticising Abhishek Banerjee for the exit.
Mamata Bnaerjee Breaks Silence As Madan Mitra Joins Ritabrata TMC Camp
Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday reacted strongly to the resignation of senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and Kamarhati MLA Madan Mitra from the TMC Kalighat-faction, saying those leaving the party by citing national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee were merely making excuses.
Her remarks came hours after Mitra quit the ruling party and joined the rebel TMC faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, marking another setback for the Trinamool Congress amid signs of growing internal dissent.
Addressing the issue, Mamata Banerjee defended Abhishek Banerjee and dismissed the criticism levelled against him by departing leaders.
‘Abhishek is still fighting,’ says Mamata
Reacting to Mitra’s exit, Mamata Banerjee said, “Those who are using Abhishek as an excuse to leave the party are only making excuses. Abhishek is still fighting and continues to stand by the people. There is no point in hiding behind such excuses.”
She also recalled the time when central agencies questioned Abhishek Banerjee’s family. “When the ED and the CBI summoned Abhishek’s wife, she went to the CBI office with their one-and-a-half-year-old child. They did not back down out of fear at that time,” she said.
The Chief Minister added that she had nurtured several generations of leaders and would continue to do so.
“I have built three generations of leadership on this issue, and I will continue to build future generations. He still has the ability to stand firm and fight,” she said.
Referring to TMC Shahid Diwas programme, Mamata said that permission had been granted by the court to hold a gathering in front of Birla Planetarium on the 21st. She said people had been asked to assemble from 11 am and the meeting would continue until 3 pm.
She also sent a message to leaders leaving the party. “Those who have left because they are afraid of the central agencies are free to do so. It will make no difference to the party. The party will continue to function as it has been,” she said.
Madan Mitra attacks party leadership
Earlier in the day, Madan Mitra resigned from the Mamata Banerjee-led party and joined the rebel faction headed by Ritabrata Banerjee.
After joining the camp, Mitra attempted to play down the move, saying he had “only changed room in the Assembly.”
He criticised the party leadership, alleging that the organisation had become centred around Abhishek Banerjee. “I had suggested to Abhishek Banerjee that he step aside for six months or a year. I told him, let us build the party, and then you can come back and take your seat, but he refused. He said, I won’t leave the party. The party is sinking; the boat has gone under. People are dying. Yet, the party decided, or rather it was forced to accept, that everyone else could die, but Abhishek had to be saved. It is deeply saddening,” Mitra said.
He added that the party belonged to everyone but had been reduced to serving only Abhishek Banerjee.
“The party belongs to everyone, yet it seems to have been reduced to serving only Abhishek. I earnestly request Mamata ji to come. Let us view this as a marathon. We will surely cross paths along the way. Let us see which horse surges ahead,” he said.
While announcing his resignation, Mitra said he had stepped down from all positions in the Trinamool Congress but would continue as a member of the West Bengal Assembly.
“I have resigned from all the positions. Though I remain an MLA. I have left everything associated with Trinamool. That means I am no longer a Trinamool MLA in the functional sense,” he said. His resignation came a day after the Enforcement Directorate summoned his two sons and wife in connection with the alleged municipal recruitment scam.
Mitra’s departure is the latest setback for Mamata Banerjee as the Trinamool Congress faces internal divisions following its sweeping defeat to the BJP in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
There are growing signs of internal dissent within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), with speculation that nearly 20 MPs are unhappy with the party leadership.
About the Author
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen…Read More
Read More
