TMC Internal Crisis Deepens as Speaker Rejects New Whip Appointment

The dispute follows a chaotic organizational shake-up within the TMC, triggered by a rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee. On Monday, this group declared a new leadership structure for the All India Trinamool Congress, appointing Arup Roy as chairperson and naming several high-profile figures—including Firhad Hakim and Aroop Biswas—to key positions in a newly formed 30-member National Working Committee. The rebels have publicly invited former chief minister Mamata Banerjee to serve as a party mentor while simultaneously restructuring the organization’s hierarchy.

In response to the insurrection, the TMC disciplinary committee issued show-cause notices to eight senior leaders, including Hakim, Biswas, and Arup Roy, citing alleged anti-party activities. By attempting to replace Firhad Hakim with Madan Mitra as Chief Whip, the official party leadership is seeking to reassert control over its legislative presence. However, the Speaker’s office has cited the "sub-judice" status of the internal party turmoil as the justification for refusing to formally acknowledge the change in leadership.