Nearly 28 years after Mamata Banerjee left the safety of the Indian National Congress to carve out a political space of her own, the Trinamool Congress finds itself facing a familiar adversary — rebellion, this time from within its own corridors of power. What was once her most potent weapon now appears to be turning against the very party she built.
Mamata's political journey began in the late 1990s when she walked away from the Congress high command, frustrated by what she described as a lack of respect for regional aspirations and internal democracy. That act of defiance gave birth to the modern TMC, which gradually transformed from a regional faction into one of India's most formidable state-level parties. Her signature style — confrontational, outspoken, and unafraid to challenge established powers — became the party's defining character.
Now, however, veteran cadres and former allies are voicing discontent over decisions made without consultation, the marginalization of senior leaders, and what some describe as an increasingly centralized command structure that contradicts the democratic ethos Mamata herself championed. Several sitting MLAs have publicly questioned leadership strategies ahead of upcoming political cycles, while others have quietly aligned themselves with alternative power centers within the party.
Political analysts say the irony is stark: the party that rose by rejecting the Congress's hierarchical model now faces criticism for replicating the same top-down approach it once opposed. The rebellion that defined Mamata's career is echoing inside her own camp, forcing a reckoning on whether TMC can sustain its rebellious identity while governing the powerful state of West Bengal.
The outcome of this internal tussle will likely shape not only the party's direction but also West Bengal's political landscape for years to come.
