Congress MP Sonia Gandhi in conversation with TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee during the India Block meeting in New Delhi.
TMC crisis live updates: It appears that the crisis within the Trinamool Congress is deepening, with fresh signs of rebellion emerging in the party. What started as dissatisfaction over the functioning of the party has now turned into a multi-front challenge involving senior leaders, MPs and MLAs. The latest controversy came on Thursday when senior party leader and senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee publicly attacked national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and accused him of arrogance and disrespect towards senior leaders. His comments came as Abhishek appeared before investigators in Kolkata in the signature fraud case.
These developments add to a series of setbacks for the Mamata Banerjee-led party, including the recognition of a rebel faction in the West Bengal Assembly, the rise of a parallel group among TMC MPs, the resignation of senior MPs and renewed speculation about a possible rapprochement with the Congress.
Kalyan Banerjee gave ultimatum to Mamta: The sharpest attack so far on Mamata’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee came from Kalyan Banerjee, who said he would no longer represent the TMC leader in court and accused him of contributing to the party’s current troubles.
“From now on, I will not appear in any legal case of Abhishek Banerjee. I don’t like his arrogance. I am a senior lawyer and senior to him in politics. He should understand that the party is facing this crisis because of him. He cannot insult people,” Kalyan Banerjee told HT.
The Serampore MP directly challenged party chief Mamata Banerjee to choose between him and her nephew, hinting that his future in the party may depend on her decision.
“Mamata Banerjee will have to choose between me or her. This is an ultimatum. I leave it to her discretion. If she says the party cannot run without Abhishek, I will have to find other avenues,” Kalyan Banerjee told reporters in Kolkata.
His dismissal from the signature forgery case sparked outrage over what he described as a late-night text message.
Recognition of rebel MLAs as major opposition group: The first major sign of the party’s internal divisions emerged in the West Bengal Assembly last week when Speaker Rathindra Nath Bose recognized a group of 58 rebel TMC MLAs as the principal opposition faction.
The faction is led by Ritabrata Banerjee, an unprecedented development for the party that has dominated West Bengal politics for over a decade.
A parallel rebellion takes shape among MPs: The unrest has also spread to Parliament, where a separate group of TMC MPs has emerged.
Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who resigned from all party posts last week, claimed that around 20 MPs were supporting the dissident camp. He also indicated that the group would be willing to support the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.
More prominent leaders joined the dissident camp: The rebel camp has continued to attract high-profile leaders. On Wednesday, MPs Sayoni Ghosh and Mala Roy joined the dissident MPs.
Other MPs said to be associated with the group include Abu Taher, Asit Mal, Arup Chakraborty, Kalipad Soren, Jagdish Basunia, Prasun Banerjee, Sharmila Sarkar, Satabdi Roy, Yusuf Pathan, June Maliya, Khalilur Rehman, Bapi Halder, Rachana Banerjee, Mithali Bagh, Dev Adhikari and Partha Bhowmik.
Resignations increase pressure on leadership: The party’s troubles have increased due to one resignation after another. Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan accepted the resignation of Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev with effect from June 10.
Following his exit, senior TMC leader Sukhendu Shekhar Ray resigned from both the Rajya Sabha and the primary membership of the party.
Merger discussion gained momentum in Congress: The growing rift has also intensified speculation about a possible merger or closer alignment between the TMC and the Indian National Congress, especially after Mamata Banerjee met Sonia Gandhi in Delhi earlier this week.
The discussions gained further momentum after Abhishek Banerjee met Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday to explore ways to strengthen ties between the two parties.
However, Congress leaders have rejected reports of any merger, and people familiar with the matter have said that no such proposal is currently under consideration.
TMC hits back at rebels: Amid the growing crisis, the Mamata Banerjee camp has tried to push back the dissidents. On Tuesday, party leaders accused the rebel MPs of lacking “political ethics and morality” and described them as opportunists trying to create division.
At the same time, there is uncertainty about the actual strength of the rebel group. There is still no clear picture of which MPs have formally joined the dissident group, while Lok Sabha officials have yet to clarify the status of the letter that the rebels claimed to have handed over.
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These developments add to a series of setbacks for the Mamata Banerjee-led party, including the recognition of a rebel faction in the West Bengal Assembly, the rise of a parallel group among TMC MPs, the resignation of senior MPs and renewed speculation about a possible rapprochement with the Congress.
Kalyan Banerjee gave ultimatum to Mamta: The sharpest attack so far on Mamata’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee came from Kalyan Banerjee, who said he would no longer represent the TMC leader in court and accused him of contributing to the party’s current troubles.
“From now on, I will not appear in any legal case of Abhishek Banerjee. I don’t like his arrogance. I am a senior lawyer and senior to him in politics. He should understand that the party is facing this crisis because of him. He cannot insult people,” Kalyan Banerjee told HT.
The Serampore MP directly challenged party chief Mamata Banerjee to choose between him and her nephew, hinting that his future in the party may depend on her decision.
“Mamata Banerjee will have to choose between me or her. This is an ultimatum. I leave it to her discretion. If she says the party cannot run without Abhishek, I will have to find other avenues,” Kalyan Banerjee told reporters in Kolkata.
His dismissal from the signature forgery case sparked outrage over what he described as a late-night text message.
Recognition of rebel MLAs as major opposition group: The first major sign of the party’s internal divisions emerged in the West Bengal Assembly last week when Speaker Rathindra Nath Bose recognized a group of 58 rebel TMC MLAs as the principal opposition faction.
The faction is led by Ritabrata Banerjee, an unprecedented development for the party that has dominated West Bengal politics for over a decade.
A parallel rebellion takes shape among MPs: The unrest has also spread to Parliament, where a separate group of TMC MPs has emerged.
Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who resigned from all party posts last week, claimed that around 20 MPs were supporting the dissident camp. He also indicated that the group would be willing to support the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.
More prominent leaders joined the dissident camp: The rebel camp has continued to attract high-profile leaders. On Wednesday, MPs Sayoni Ghosh and Mala Roy joined the dissident MPs.
Other MPs said to be associated with the group include Abu Taher, Asit Mal, Arup Chakraborty, Kalipad Soren, Jagdish Basunia, Prasun Banerjee, Sharmila Sarkar, Satabdi Roy, Yusuf Pathan, June Maliya, Khalilur Rehman, Bapi Halder, Rachana Banerjee, Mithali Bagh, Dev Adhikari and Partha Bhowmik.
Resignations increase pressure on leadership: The party’s troubles have increased due to one resignation after another. Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan accepted the resignation of Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev with effect from June 10.
Following his exit, senior TMC leader Sukhendu Shekhar Ray resigned from both the Rajya Sabha and the primary membership of the party.
Merger discussion gained momentum in Congress: The growing rift has also intensified speculation about a possible merger or closer alignment between the TMC and the Indian National Congress, especially after Mamata Banerjee met Sonia Gandhi in Delhi earlier this week.
The discussions gained further momentum after Abhishek Banerjee met Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday to explore ways to strengthen ties between the two parties.
However, Congress leaders have rejected reports of any merger, and people familiar with the matter have said that no such proposal is currently under consideration.
TMC hits back at rebels: Amid the growing crisis, the Mamata Banerjee camp has tried to push back the dissidents. On Tuesday, party leaders accused the rebel MPs of lacking “political ethics and morality” and described them as opportunists trying to create division.
At the same time, there is uncertainty about the actual strength of the rebel group. There is still no clear picture of which MPs have formally joined the dissident group, while Lok Sabha officials have yet to clarify the status of the letter that the rebels claimed to have handed over.
Follow all updates here:
June 12, 2026 10:18:26 am First
TMC crisis live updates: Rebel TMC MPs to submit letter to Lok Sabha Speaker today
TMC crisis LIVE updates: The rebel camp within the Trinamool Congress is likely to take its next formal step on Friday, with a group of around 20 dissident MPs expected to submit a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker, HT has learned.
June 12, 2026 10:11:56 am First
TMC crisis live updates: ‘Not an astrologer’, says Kakoli Ghosh as questions remain over rebels’ next move
TMC crisis live updates: Amid speculation about the future of rebel TMC MPs, party MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar refused to say whether the dissident group would support the NDA or remain in the opposition.
News agency PTI quoted Ghosh as saying, “I am not an astrologer, so I cannot predict the future right now. But people here are unhappy with the way the government is functioning. The public is upset, and even our MPs are dissatisfied. How far this dissatisfaction will go, it is difficult to say at this time.”
June 12, 2026 9:50:40 am First
TMC crisis live updates: Abhishek interrogated by CID for about five and a half hours
TMC crisis live updates: TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee was questioned by the CID for about 5.5 hours at Bhabani Bhawan, the agency’s headquarters in Kolkata’s Alipore area, in the signature forgery case, reports news agency ANI.
After late night questioning, Abhishek was seen reaching the residence of TMC chief Mamata Banerjee.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities in a resolution tabled in the West Bengal Assembly on appointments to key opposition posts, including Leader of Opposition, Deputy Leader and Chief Whip.
