3 weeks ago
Rebel Camp MLAs Join Mamata Faction's Bengal Assembly Protest
Many people in India belong to a political party called the Trinamool Congress.
After the party lost an election, some members argued about who should be their leader.
Three of those members, who did not agree with the leader Mamata Banerjee, still joined a protest to support her.
The protest was about an angry crowd in a town called Kanchrapara.
The crowd threw mud and a slipper at Mamata Banerjee's car and called her a thief.
She said the police and the government were protecting the people who attacked her.
Another party, called the BJP, said the crowd was only angry because of things she had done.
Police arrested about thirty people at another protest in a place called Hazra.
Even though the party members disagree about leadership, many still say they follow Mamata Banerjee.
This shows that the argument inside the party is very complicated.
Three MLAs from the Ritabrata Banerjee camp — Abdul Khaleque Molla, Tausifur Rahman and Bibhas Sardar — joined the Mamata faction's protest inside the West Bengal Assembly premises.
The protest condemned an alleged attack on Mamata Banerjee's convoy in Kanchrapara, where protesters reportedly hurled mud and a slipper at her vehicle and raised 'chor-chor' slogans.
The three MLAs were among 65 of the TMC's 80 legislators who had earlier backed Ritabrata Banerjee's claim to the Leader of the Opposition post.
Mamata Banerjee accused the state government and police of protecting 'lumpens,' while the BJP rejected the allegations, with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari saying she had to hear 'chor' because of corruption.
Protests spread across the state, with police stopping a procession at Hazra and arresting around 30 protesters.
The incident is set against the TMC's organisational split following its defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections.
- Who
- Mamata Banerjee and her faction, three rebel-camp MLAs — Abdul Khaleque Molla, Tausifur Rahman and Bibhas Sardar — and the TMC leadership, alongside the BJP and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
- What
- A protest by the Mamata-backed faction against an alleged attack on her convoy, joined by three MLAs from the rival Ritabrata Banerjee camp.
- Where
- Inside the West Bengal Assembly premises, with related demonstrations across West Bengal, including Kanchrapara and Hazra.
- When
- The Assembly protest took place on Monday, a day after Sunday's confrontation in Kanchrapara.
- Why
- To condemn the alleged attack on Mamata Banerjee and demand the immediate arrest of those responsible, amid an internal TMC leadership dispute.
Mamata Banerjee faction
BJP and Ritabrata camp
Kanchrapara convoy incident
Mamata Banerjee faction
Mamata Banerjee and her faction say her convoy was attacked with mud, a slipper and 'chor-chor' slogans, that the police and state government are protecting the attackers, and that those responsible must be arrested immediately.
BJP and Ritabrata camp
The BJP rejects the allegations, saying Mamata went to Kanchrapara to provoke people and that the public merely protested; Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said she had to hear 'chor' because of the corruption she has committed.
TMC leadership dispute
Mamata Banerjee faction
The Mamata-backed Kalighat camp supported its own nominee for the Leader of the Opposition post and staged the protest upholding allegiance to Mamata, with rebel-camp MLAs insisting their political loyalty to her remains distinct from the internal dispute.
BJP and Ritabrata camp
The Ritabrata camp, backed by 65 of the party's 80 MLAs, argues the existing leadership has lost the confidence of a majority of elected representatives and has announced a parallel national leadership structure with Arup Roy as chairperson.
Allegiance of rebel-camp MLAs
Mamata Banerjee faction
The Kalighat camp sees the three MLAs' participation as a sign of continued loyalty to Mamata Banerjee; Bibhas Sardar said all 80 Trinamool MLAs elected on her symbol should protest the attack.
BJP and Ritabrata camp
The MLAs say their organisational position in the dispute is unchanged; Abdul Khaleque Molla said 'I am with Ritabrata, but I am protesting the attack on Mamata,' drawing a clear separation between the two.
Key facts
- Incident
- Protesters allegedly hurled mud and a slipper at Mamata Banerjee's vehicle and raised 'chor-chor' slogans in Kanchrapara
- Protest
- Mamata faction protest inside West Bengal Assembly premises on Monday
- Rebel MLAs joining
- Abdul Khaleque Molla (Metiabruz), Tausifur Rahman (Basirhat), Bibhas Sardar (Baruipur East)
- Leadership support
- 65 of the TMC's 80 MLAs backed Ritabrata Banerjee's claim to the Leader of the Opposition post
- Arrests
- Around 30 protesters arrested at Hazra
- Political context
- Post-election split in the TMC after its defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections
- Parallel structure
- Ritabrata camp elected senior MLA Arup Roy as chairperson and announced a parallel national leadership structure
- Lok Sabha
- 20 Trinamool Lok Sabha MPs aligned with NCPI, an NDA ally; disqualification petitions pending before Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla
Quotes
Abdul Khaleque Molla
MLA of Metiabruz who is part of Ritabrata Banerjee camp
“"Our leader has been attacked. I strongly condemn it. We won on Mamata's symbol. All 80 Trinamool MLAs should protest against this."”
telegraphindia.com
“"Wherever Didi is, I am there. Without Mamata Didi's picture, I would not have got even 500 votes."”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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