West Bengal Kamarhati MLA and veteran Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Madan Mitra has resigned from Mamata Banerjee camp to join rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee.
The dramatic political development came a day after the Enforcement Directorate summoned Mitra’s wife and two sons in connection with the alleged municipal recruitment scam.
Long regarded as one of Mamata Banerjee’s trusted political associates, Mitra’s decision to switch allegiance to the rebel faction underscores the widening divisions within the ruling party in West Bengal. While distancing himself from the leadership aligned with Mamata Banerjee, he insisted that he had not abandoned the Trinamool Congress itself.
Madan Mitra quits TMC organisational posts days after elevation
Mitra’s decision is particularly significant because he had only recently been elevated to the influential post of general secretary during the Trinamool Congress’ organisational reshuffle on July 4. The appointment was widely viewed as a sign of the confidence reposed in him by the Mamata Banerjee-led leadership.
Less than a fortnight later, the veteran leader announced that he had resigned from all national and state committees functioning under the Mamata Banerjee-aligned TMC.
He also stepped down as the party’s chief whip with immediate effect, ending his organisational association with the faction.
‘I have only changed my room, not my house’
Speaking to reporters after meeting Ritabrata Banerjee, Mitra sought to draw a distinction between leaving the Mamata Banerjee camp and leaving the Trinamool Congress.
“I have only changed my room, not my house. I am very much in the TMC,” the Kamarhati MLA told reporters after meeting the rebel leader.
Appearing in a white kurta and his trademark dark sunglasses, Mitra sat beside Ritabrata Banerjee as he announced that he would no longer hold any organisational responsibilities under the Mamata Banerjee-led faction while continuing to serve as a TMC MLA.
“I am resigning from all national and state committees of the Kalighat TMC. I am also stepping down as chief whip. But I remain a Trinamool MLA,” he said.
Madan Mitra’s switch deals blow to Mamata Banerjee camp
Mitra has long been regarded as one of Mamata Banerjee’s most recognisable and loyal political associates. His decision to align himself with the Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel faction is likely to intensify speculation over the widening rift within the Trinamool Congress.
While he has relinquished every organisational responsibility under the Mamata Banerjee camp, Mitra has maintained that his political identity remains rooted in the Trinamool Congress. His repeated assertion that he continues to be a party MLA suggests that his move is aimed at the internal factional battle rather than a formal exit from the ruling party.
Why Madan Mitra’s resignation matters
Mitra’s departure from the Mamata Banerjee-led organisational structure comes at a politically sensitive time for the Trinamool Congress, with internal differences increasingly spilling into the public domain.
The fact that Madan Mitra resigned only 11 days after being appointed general secretary adds to the significance of the development and raises fresh questions about the stability of the party’s leadership structure. His switch to the Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel camp marks one of the highest-profile realignments within the TMC in recent months, even as he continues to insist that he remains “very much in the TMC.”
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