The Dramatic Day in Delhi

While Mamata Banerjee sat alongside Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, and leaders from 25 opposition parties at the INDIA bloc meeting, discussing strategies to counter the BJP-led government, a group of TMC MPs were holding their own closed-door meeting at the residence of Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, barely a kilometre away.

The rebellion was led by veteran leader Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, who had served as TMC’s Rajya Sabha chief whip for 13 years. Ray resigned from the party, filed his formal letter of resignation, and walked out — taking with him at least 11 MPs who attended the meeting with BJP leadership on the day. Reports indicate that the total number of TMC parliamentarians ready to switch allegiance could be as high as 20, representing over 70 percent of the party’s Lok Sabha strength.

“We are forming a separate bloc in Parliament. We will support the NDA,” Ray declared outside the meeting. “We are the real Trinamool — the party that Mamata Banerjee founded with democratic principles has been reduced to a family enterprise.”

Roots of the Rebellion

The TMC split did not happen overnight. It is the culmination of months of simmering discontent within the party over several issues that have eroded the morale of rank-and-file leaders and parliamentarians.

At the centre of the rebellion is the growing dominance of Mamata Banerjee’s nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, in party affairs. Several senior leaders have privately expressed frustration at being sidelined in favour of younger leaders perceived to be part of the “family circle.” The organisational restructuring carried out by Abhishek in 2025 alienated several veteran leaders who found their influence diminished.

The TMC’s performance in recent by-elections, declining vote share in several parliamentary constituencies, and allegations of corruption involving party functionaries have also contributed to the growing disillusionment. Additionally, the party’s handling of the RG Kar Medical College controversy and its aftermath left many leaders uncomfortable with the leadership’s response.

INDIA Bloc Meeting — A Study in Contrasts

The timing of the split could not have been more damaging for the opposition’s optics. The INDIA bloc meeting, attended by representatives of 25 parties, was meant to project unity against the BJP government on issues ranging from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, CBSE and NEET examination controversies, to economic concerns and constitutional questions.

Congress president Kharge used the meeting to demand the resignation of the Education Minister over NEET irregularities and announced that the INDIA bloc would write to the Chief Justice of India regarding allegations that crores of voter names were deleted during the SIR process.

However, the news of the TMC split overshadowed virtually every other agenda item. Political commentators noted that the development struck at the heart of the INDIA bloc’s credibility, raising questions about whether the alliance can function as a coherent opposition force if its constituent parties are themselves fracturing.

Mamata’s Response

Mamata Banerjee, who was reportedly blindsided by the scale of the rebellion, maintained a stoic public demeanour at the INDIA bloc meeting. However, sources close to the TMC leadership said the Chief Minister was “furious” and had initiated calls to individual MPs to gauge the extent of the damage.

TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh dismissed the rebels as “opportunists and BJP agents” who had been planning their exit for months. “These individuals were already in touch with the BJP. Their departure cleanses the party. TMC’s strength comes from the people of Bengal, not from a handful of turncoats,” Ghosh said.

However, the numbers tell a different story. If 20 of TMC’s 28 Lok Sabha MPs and its Rajya Sabha members defect, the party’s parliamentary strength would be decimated. The rebels claim they represent the “real Trinamool” and may seek legal recognition as a separate group, potentially triggering disputes over party symbols and legislative standing.

BJP’s Calculus

For the BJP, the TMC split represents a significant strategic gain. The ruling party, which has been steadily expanding its footprint in West Bengal, now stands to benefit from the organizational chaos within its primary rival in the state.

BJP sources indicated that the rebel TMC MPs would formally join the party in the coming weeks, though the process of integration would be handled carefully to avoid alienating existing BJP leaders in Bengal who have fought against TMC for years.

“This is a natural homecoming for leaders who believe in development, good governance, and nationalism,” said a senior BJP leader. “Mamata Banerjee’s authoritarian leadership style and the pervasive corruption in Bengal made this inevitable.”

Implications for Bengal Politics

The TMC split has profound implications for West Bengal’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. With a significantly weakened parliamentary presence, TMC’s ability to project itself as a national force is severely compromised. More critically, the defection of senior leaders could trigger a domino effect at the state level, where MLAs and local leaders may reassess their political allegiances.

Political analyst Partha Chatterjee (not to be confused with the arrested TMC leader of the same name) observed, “This is the most serious challenge Mamata Banerjee has faced since she founded the TMC. The party’s identity is inseparable from hers, but if the organizational structure collapses, even her personal popularity may not be enough to hold things together.”

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The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the TMC split is a fatal blow to the party or whether Mamata Banerjee, a politician known for her resilience and ability to fight back from adversity, can once again defy the odds and rebuild. For now, however, the political landscape of India’s opposition has been irrevocably altered.

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However, the gathering has been overshadowed by the conspicuous absence of two significant allies: the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), a ruling party in Tamil Nadu, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has faced its own political turbulence. Their decision to skip the meeting has raised fresh questions about the cohesion of India’s largest opposition formation.

Who Is Attending

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh confirmed the attendance of 23 parties in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “23 political parties have confirmed participation in the INDIA janbandhan meeting at Constitution Club, New Delhi on Monday June 8, 2026, at 12 noon,” Ramesh said. “Like India, the INDIA janbandhan continues to stand united through its diversity.”

Among the senior leaders expected to attend are Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee (who left for Delhi on Sunday), Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, who is expected to join via video conferencing, according to party spokesperson Sanjay Raut.

Abhishek Banerjee of the TMC is also expected to attend, along with representatives from the CPI(M), CPI, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, among others.

Why DMK and AAP Are Absent

The DMK’s absence is particularly significant given that it is one of the INDIA bloc’s strongest regional partners, governing Tamil Nadu with a comfortable majority. While party sources did not provide a detailed explanation, political analysts note that the DMK has historically maintained a degree of independence from Congress-led formations and may be recalibrating its position following recent electoral dynamics in southern India.

The AAP, led by Arvind Kejriwal, is also unlikely to attend. The party has been focused on its own legal and political challenges and has distanced itself from several INDIA bloc decisions in recent months. The absence of both parties suggests that the alliance, formed in 2023 to challenge the BJP’s dominance, continues to struggle with the fundamental challenge of keeping all its constituents aligned.

CPI(M) Attends Despite Tensions with Congress

Adding to the internal friction, the CPI(M) — which is attending the meeting — has publicly expressed displeasure with Congress. General Secretary M.A. Baby wrote to Kharge seeking clarification over repeated allegations by Congress leaders that the CPI(M) had an understanding with the BJP during the Kerala assembly election campaign. Baby warned that such remarks could “weaken the trust and unity within the opposition alliance.”

Despite the tensions, the party decided to participate and will be represented by Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas. The decision suggests that the CPI(M) wants to remain within the alliance framework while simultaneously pressing for a resolution to its grievances with Congress.

The internal dynamics of India’s political landscape have been turbulent, with developments such as the BJP’s cabinet expansion in West Bengal under Suvendu Adhikari shifting the balance of power and putting additional pressure on the opposition to present a credible alternative.

Key Agenda Items

While the formal agenda has not been publicly announced, sources within the alliance say the meeting is expected to cover several critical issues:

Electoral strategy for upcoming state elections — Multiple states go to polls in the next 18 months, and the bloc needs a coordinated approach to seat sharing and campaign strategy.

The 2029 Lok Sabha roadmap — With just three years until the next general election, the alliance must begin laying the groundwork for its challenge to the BJP.

Response to government policies — Including the economic impact of the rising cost of living driven by factors such as LPG price hikes, the handling of the NEET controversy, and India’s foreign policy direction amidst the ongoing West Asia crisis.

Internal cohesion — Addressing the trust deficit highlighted by the CPI(M)’s letter and managing the expectations of smaller alliance partners who feel sidelined by Congress.

The Bigger Picture

The INDIA bloc was formed in June 2023 as a grand opposition alliance to challenge the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. While the alliance performed better than expected in some states, it failed to dislodge the BJP-led NDA from power. Since then, the alliance has faced a series of setbacks, including electoral losses in state elections and a gradual weakening of inter-party coordination.

Political changes across the country — including the recent Karnataka cabinet crisis resolved by DK Shivakumar — have demonstrated that even within Congress-governed states, managing factional politics remains a significant challenge. The ability of the INDIA bloc to function as a disciplined, nationwide opposition will depend on whether leaders like Mamata Banerjee, Rahul Gandhi, and Akhilesh Yadav can bridge ideological and strategic differences.

Monday’s meeting is being seen as a litmus test. If the bloc can emerge with a clear, unified message and a concrete action plan, it will signal that the alliance remains a viable political force. If the differences remain unresolved, it may accelerate the fragmentation that the BJP has consistently sought to exploit.

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