'She's Most Welcome': Rebel TMC Offers Mamata Chief Advisor Role After Power Grab
'She's Most Welcome': Rebel TMC Offers Mamata Chief Advisor Role After Power Grab Reported By, Last Updated: June 22, 2026, 21:54 IST The remarks came
'She's Most Welcome': Rebel TMC Offers Mamata Chief Advisor Role After Power Grab Reported By, Last Updated: June 22, 2026, 21:54 IST The remarks came after the rebel camp formally elected MLA Arup Roy as the new chairperson of the party. File image of TMC founder Mamata Banerjee and LoP Ritabrata Banerjee. (Source: PTI) Mamata Banerjee is welcome to join the rebel faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) as its chief advisor, Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee said on Monday, after dissident leaders moved to wrest control of the party from its founder. Speaking after a special session of rebel TMC leaders in Kolkata, Ritabrata Banerjee struck a conciliatory tone towards the former West Bengal chief minister despite the growing internal revolt. “If Mamata Banerjee wants to be the chief advisor, she is most welcome," he told reporters.
The remarks came after the rebel camp formally elected MLA Arup Roy as the new chairperson of the party, in what is being seen as the strongest challenge yet to Mamata Banerjee’s authority within the TMC. According to Ritabrata Banerjee, the special session unanimously elected Roy as chairperson. minister Aroop Biswas and MLAs Firhad Hakim, Rathin Ghosh and Sabina Yasmin were appointed vice-chairpersons. Ritabrata Banerjee, Javed Khan and Sandipan Saha were named general secretaries, while Raghunathganj MLA Akhruzzaman Ansari was appointed treasurer. The rebel leader defended the legitimacy of the meeting and said the faction would formally inform the Election Commission about the decisions taken during the session. “It is not about what is real or not real. We are TMC and will inform the Election Commission about today’s special session proceedings," he said, adding, “We have functioned and convened this special session as per the norms.
It is for the EC to decide what is wrong or right." The rebellion marks a dramatic escalation of the crisis within the party following its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections. Earlier this month, 58 of the party’s 80 MLAs backed Ritabrata Banerjee’s claim to the post of Leader of the Opposition, rejecting the leadership’s choice. The turmoil has also spread to Parliament, where a section of TMC MPs broke away from the party’s parliamentary wing and extended support to the BJP-led NDA. (With inputs from PTI) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad.
