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The TMC expelled Ritabrata Bandyopadhyay and Sandipan Saha after they denied signing a letter proposing the name for the Leader of the Opposition.
TMC MLA Sandipan Saha was expelled from the party amid the ‘forged signature’ row. (Photo: X)
The internal turmoil within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) spilt into the open on Monday as the party expelled two of its MLAs over alleged anti-party activities. The beleaguered TMC expelled Ritabrata Bandyopadhyay and Sandipan Saha after they denied signing a letter proposing the name for the Leader of the Opposition.
The party accused the MLAs of repeatedly failing to attend meetings and getting involved in anti-party activities. “It has also been observed that you have engaged in activities and made statements that are prejudicial to the interests of AITC,” it said in separate notices.
The party said that the two legislators would cease to hold any position, responsibility or privilege associated with the Trinamool Congress from the date of issuance of the notices. The move will bring down TMC’s tally of MLAs from 80 to 78.
‘Party Has No Moral Conduct’
Hitting out at TMC’s latest move, Sandipan Saha, the ex-TMC MLA from Entally, said the party did not engage in any moral conduct, although he denied joining any other party.
“In this party, anyone who speaks of morality will be deemed to be engaging in anti-party activity, simply because the party itself does not engage in any moral conduct,” he told news agency ANI.
#WATCH | On being expelled from All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), Sandipan Saha says, “In this party, anyone who speaks of morality will be deemed to be engaging in anti-party activity, simply because the party itself does not engage in any moral conduct… If, today, we have… https://t.co/J0DjaPV00i pic.twitter.com/lf4HWBnZ8w— ANI (@ANI) June 1, 2026
“If, today, we have been suspended from the party for the sake of upholding morality, we are actually quite pleased. Performing moral acts is indeed the duty of every legislator, which is precisely what we have done.”
TMC Leaders Speak Out Against Mamata
Sandipan Saha is the latest leader to publicly criticise Mamata Banerjee’s leadership after the party’s stunning defeat in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. He previously refused to attend a key TMC meeting, saying it was called without following appropriate protocols.
The party is facing an existential crisis in West Bengal as several leaders have publicly questioned Mamata and Abhishek Banerjee’s leadership.
Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar: The TMC MP stepped down from all organisational positions within the party, citing certain issues that are not aligned with the democratic structure. She also alleged “indecent behaviour” towards women workers and criticised the growing influence of I-PAC.
Sukhendu Sekhar Roy: Senior TMC leader Sukhendu Sekhar Roy openly questioned the functioning of the organisation, alleging a collapse of internal democracy and institutionalised corruption. He said the TMC was heading towards disintegration due to a failure in introspecting electoral setbacks.
Partha Chatterjee: One of the most recognisable faces of the TMC, Chatterjee accused Mamata Banerjee of overlooking corruption and blamed her for TMC’s defeat. He also said the party became “detached with the masses.”
Riju Dutta: Dutta attracted action after praising the BJP’s efforts to curb post-poll violence and was subsequently expelled from the party. He alleged that his previous remarks against the BJP were made under TMC pressure and raised concerns over the party leadership.
Arunava Sen: A four-time MLA from Howrah, Sen directly criticised Mamata Banerjee, saying if he were the CM, he would have resigned immediately after such a defeat.
Dev: TMC MP and actor Dev also accused the party leadership of making false promises, signalling a breakdown in intra-party communication. He accused the party of spreading misinformation about a long-delayed project to mitigate floods.
Manoj Tiwary: Days after the BJP victory, former cricketer Manoj Tiwary called the TMC government “corrupt” and “deserved to be cast away.” Tiwary congratulated the BJP on forming the government and said he was relieved at the TMC’s exit.
Niamot Sheikh: The TMC’s MLA from Murshidabad told The Indian Express that the leadership allowed factionalism in the party, which ultimately led to the defeat.
The cracks within the battered TMC were visible when more than three-fourths of its MLAs refused to attend a crucial meeting at Mamata Banerjee’s residence. Furthermore, the Diamond Harbour municipal board was dissolved on Sunday as nine MLAs resigned from their positions, delivering another setback for the party.
About the Author
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int…Read More
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