Senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and Kamarhati MLA Madan Mitra resigned from the Mamata Banerjee-led party on Wednesday and joined the rebel faction headed by Ritabrata Banerjee, marking another significant political development within the party.

Speaking after joining the breakaway camp, Mitra sought to play down the significance of his move.

“… I have only changed my room in the Assembly,” he said.

Targets Abhishek Banerjee

While announcing his decision, Mitra criticised the party’s leadership, alleging that the organisation had become focused around TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

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“… 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 also appealed directly to Chief Minister Mamata 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 added.

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While announcing his decision, Madan Mitra criticised the party’s leadership | X/ANI

Resigns from party posts

Mitra said he had stepped down from every position he held in the Trinamool Congress. While he will continue as an MLA in the West Bengal Assembly, he said he no longer considered himself a Trinamool legislator in practical terms.

“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,” Mitra said.

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Madan Mitra along plays a musical instrument during a campaign ahead of the West Bengal bypolls, in Kolkata | File image/ANI

Exit comes amid ED action

The veteran leader’s departure comes a day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoned his wife and two sons in connection with the alleged municipal recruitment scam.

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The internal split within the TMC began after the polls, with expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee emerging as the leader of a breakaway faction. The rebel group, backed by a majority of TMC legislators, has declared itself the “real” Trinamool Congress, formed a parallel organisational structure and approached the Election Commission seeking recognition as the legitimate party while staking claim to its name, symbol and funds.

FAQs:

Who did Madan Mitra join after leaving the TMC?

He joined the rebel TMC faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee.

Will Madan Mitra continue as an MLA?

Yes. He said he will remain an MLA but no longer considers himself a Trinamool MLA in the functional sense.