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With the assembly polls due next year, sources told News18 that the TMC is very confident. However, experts say that instead of fighting with the opposition, TMC camps are fighting amongst themselves
Some analysts also feel that no matter what, when elections come near, the entire TMC will get united behind chief minister Mamata Banerjee. (File pic/PTI)
Is TMC going to be TMC’s biggest challenge in the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections? This is the question that is buzzing in the state’s political circles.
Six seats saw bypolls in Bengal in November 2024. The ruling Trinamool Congress won all six, and the BJP and other parties were blanked. This even after the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder case prompted massive public revulsion against the administration.
With the assembly polls due next year, sources told News18 that the TMC is very confident.
The Bharatiya Janata Party, on the other hand, bagged fewer seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls than in the 2019 edition, and this has made the TMC more upbeat. So then why the question of the party becoming its own biggest challenge?
A senior political commentator told News18, “The BJP is not in the position it was in 2019 and 2020. As an opposition, it is not doing great right now. There is a vacuum. Now we can see the TMC factions in each area fighting amongst themselves, and this is going to be its biggest challenge.”
Internal rifts
Faction fights in the Trinamool are also not new. They have always been there and have almost become part of the TMC’s character. But now, observers say, in some places, “supari” (contract) killings have taken place, which is concerning.
In the first week of January, Malda English Bazar councillor Dulal Sarkar was shot in broad daylight by miscreants. A TMC leader has been arrested in the case.
About 12 days later, a TMC worker was killed in Kaliachak Malda, and two others sustained bullet injuries when they were shot at on their way to a function.
This is the situation in several other districts too. During the Malda incident, an MLA named Abdul Ghani said on record that these incidents are happening because of faction fighting. He stressed that one group is earning huge amounts and others are getting nothing.
Two months ago, a councillor from Kolkata was also attacked by miscreants one evening.
There have been reports of clashes between the Anubrata Mondal group and the Kajal Shek group in Birbhum.
Experts say that instead of fighting with the opposition, TMC camps are fighting amongst themselves. There are various reasons for this, insiders say.
Firstly, the party has become huge. The absence of strong opposition is also leading to this problem.
Thirdly, there is a lack of discipline in the party. Though three disciplinary committees were formed on the directions of TMC chairperson Mamata Banerjee, fighting and making controversial statements have not stopped in the party.
Another important reason is being in power. The politics of area dominance and money-related issues also give rise to fights, believe experts.
There is also a dispute between seniors and juniors in the party, say insiders.
Confused MLAs
There will be changes in the TMC organisation, that are due from last year. Party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee gave a list to Mamata Banerjee a few months back. Mamata, in an internal legislature meeting, also asked for names from MLAs. Sources say the final changes will be decided by Mamata Banerjee, taking everything into consideration.
Sources told News18 that many MLAs are confused, as some of them are of the opinion that if they give new names now and if restructuring takes place accordingly, then the old team would become angry, and they might sabotage them. If they keep the old team, will that have any other ramifications?
Experts say if these issues are not sorted, the TMC might face some hiccups in 2026.
Some analysts also feel that no matter what, when elections come near, the entire TMC will get united behind chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
What TMC and BJP leaders say
Speaking to News18, Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee said, “I don’t buy this theory at all; there is no such challenge. There may be some incidents in one or two places, but that does not mean there is any problem. After all, it’s Mamata Banerjee’s party, and all follow her only.”
TMC leader Riju Dutta told News18: “The only competition for TMC going into 2026 is TMC’s number of 2021…which is 213. We have to beat that number in 2026. Even though sometimes we see infighting among the ranks, it’s just because TMC is opposition-free or there is no relevant competition. However, like any other family, we are all together and will fight together against all divisive and communal forces in 2026. TMC will get 250 seats, and Mamata Banerjee will be sworn in for her fourth term as the CM of West Bengal.”
Jagannath Chatterjee, general secretary of Bengal BJP, took a dig at the TMC over allegations of corruption. “We are the main challenger in 2026, but Trinamool has become the ‘Tolamul’ party now. Each and every district leader is fighting with each other for money. There will be dissidents, and in 2026 they will help us,” he said.
Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, TMC leader and West Bengal minister, told News18, “There might be some problems, but our leader Mamata Banerjee has already given us directions on what to do on February 10. We are working on that; we are reaching out to all, and I am sure we will fight unitedly in 2026.”
