The Rise and the Fall of Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Mamata Banerjee
Mamata Banerjee’s Political Legacy and TMC’s Future. The Rise, Dominance and Decline of One of India’s Most Influential Regional Parties
A 15-Year Rule Ends in Shock
In May 2026, Trinamool Congress (TMC) lost power in West Bengal after 15 years, reducing from 215 seats in 2021 to just 80 out of 294 assembly seats. The BJP won 207 seats, ending Mamata Banerjee’s tenure as Chief Minister, while she herself was defeated in her own stronghold, Bhabanipur, by the BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari. A few months later, in June 2026, the party faced an unprecedented internal revolt: 58–64 MLAs backed expelled leader Ritabrata Banerjee against the official leadership, creating a Maharashtra-style split inside the legislature party.
Early Career and Break from Congress
Mamata Banerjee began as a Congress activist in the 1970s and became a Member of Parliament in 1984, at age 22. She served as Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports in the central government in the early 1990s, but she clashed repeatedly with senior Congress leaders over issues such as land rights and local autonomy in West Bengal.
In 1997–98, she founded the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) as a breakaway outfit, arguing that the Congress had failed to protect workers, farmers and women in Bengal. The name “Trinamool” means “grassroots”, projecting the party as a movement from the bottom up.
Singur and Nandigram: The Turning Point
The TMC remained a significant but not dominant opposition force until the mid‑2000s, when two land protests catapulted Mamata to statewide prominence:
- Singur (2006–07): Farmers resisted the state government’s acquisition of agricultural land for Tata’s Nano car plant. Mamata led long protests, demanding that the land be returned to unwilling farmers.
- Nandigram (2007): Police firing on protesters in East Midnapore left 14 dead while the government tried to set up a chemical hub on farmland. Mamata built a massive anti‑acquisition movement, which forced the Left Front government to back down and shift the project.
These agitations turned Mamata into a symbol of resistance against perceived land grabs and authoritarianism, uniting farmers, students, and sections of the middle class against the 34‑year‑old Left Front government.
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2009–2011: From Opposition to Power
The momentum from Singur and Nandigram helped the TMC in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, winning 19 seats in Bengal. In 2011, the TMC won 184 out of 294 assembly seats, ending 34 years of Left Front rule, and Mamata became West Bengal’s first woman Chief Minister. This marked the birth of the “TMC era” in Bengal.
The TMC’s Dominance (2011–2021)
Consolidating Power
After 2011, the TMC:
- Dismantled much of the Left’s organisational base in rural and urban areas.
- Consolidated the Congress and smaller secular parties as secondary players in Bengal.
- Won 34 of 42 Lok Sabha seats in 2014, becoming a national party with a strong regional base.
- Stormed to 215 seats in the 2021 assembly election, giving Mamata a third consecutive term and turning the TMC into one of India’s largest regional parties.
Identity and Governance
Under Mamata, the TMC built a political identity that combined:
- Bengali cultural pride and defence of regional identity against perceived central or “Hindi heartland” domination.
- Welfare schemes for women, farmers, and the poor (such as scholarship schemes, lactating mother support, and rural employment programmes).
- Fierce opposition to the BJP, especially after 2014, framed the BJP as outsiders trying to impose a majoritarian agenda on Bengal.
This mix helped the TMC survive several national anti‑Incumbency waves and remain the dominant force in Bengal politics.
Cracks in the Foundation
Organisational Centralisation and “One‑Man Rule”
Despite its “grassroots” name, the TMC became highly centralised around Mamata and, increasingly, around her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, the party’s national general secretary. Over time, many senior leaders complained about:
- Lack of internal democracy and opaque candidate selection.
- Marginalisation of older organisers in favour of loyalists and newcomers close to the leadership.
- A “court” culture where access to power depended on proximity to Mamata and Abhishek, rather than grassroots work.
Scams and Allegations of Corruption
Several major scandals eroded public trust:
- Teacher recruitment scams: The CBI and ED probed irregularities in the recruitment of primary and secondary teachers, alleging that appointments were made in exchange for bribes and patronage. Properties worth hundreds of crores were attached, and the ED summoned Abhishek Banerjee in 2026 in connection with the money‑laundering probe.
- Other corruption allegations: Investigations touched on land deals, panchayat funds, and other government schemes, creating a narrative that the TMC had become a “jobs‑for‑money” machine.
While the TMC dismissed many allegations as politically motivated, the repeated raids, court cases, and media coverage gradually weakened the party’s moral standing.
Polarisation and Communal Tensions
From around 2019 onward, Bengal’s politics became increasingly polarised along religious lines:
- The BJP emphasised “infiltration, corruption and appeasement”, alleging that the TMC had allowed illegal migration and practised minority‑centric politics to consolidate votes.
- The TMC accused the BJP of communal polarisation, Hindutva politics, and attempts to divide Bengal’s plural society.
Events like Ram Navami processions, Eid celebrations, and isolated communal incidents were used by both sides to mobilise supporters, deepening societal divides. Many voters felt that the state was moving away from Mamata’s earlier image of a secular, inclusive leader.
The 2026 Election: How the TMC Fell
BJP’s Strategy and Vote Consolidation
The BJP’s 2026 victory was not a sudden surge but the result of a long-term strategy:
- Vote consolidation: Early EC data suggested around 65% consolidation of the Hindu vote behind the BJP, especially in rural, semi‑urban, and tribal areas.
- Colour‑blind campaign: The BJP avoided personal attacks on Mamata to prevent a sympathy wave, and instead focused on scams, “infiltration”, and governance failures.
- Expansion into TMC bastions: The party made deep inroads into areas like Birbhum, Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly, and Jungle Mahal, which had been strong TMC strongholds.
TMC’s Weaknesses
The TMC faced multiple headwinds in 2026:
- Anti‑incumbency after 15 years: Many voters were tired of the same leadership and wanted change.
- Organisational shrinkage: The party’s booth‑level network had weakened, especially in industrial belts and North Bengal, where discontent over jobs and land was high.
- Leadership fatigue: Mamata, now in her late 70s, was seen by some as weary and unable to match the energy of a rejuvenated BJP machine.
Personal Defeat and Seat Loss
The election results were stark:
- BJP: 207 seats
- TMC: 80 seats (down from 215)
- Congress: 2 seats
- Others: 5 seats.
Mamata lost Bhabanipur, the constituency she had once won comfortably, to Suvendu Adhikari by over 15,000 votes, symbolising the collapse of her personal dominance.
The 2026 Internal Revolt: A Split Within the TMC
The Rebellion
In June 2026, weeks after the election, a major rebellion erupted inside the TMC legislature party:
- 58 MLAs (later claiming 64) submitted a letter to the Assembly Speaker backing expelled leader Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of Opposition, instead of the official nominee, Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay.
- The Speaker accepted their recommendation, granting Ritabrata the opposition leader’s chamber within hours.
- The rebels said they continued to respect Mamata as their leader but rejected Abhishek Banerjee’s authority over the legislature party.
Why the Numbers Mattered
The anti‑defection law protects a formal split if at least two‑thirds of a party’s legislators break away. With 80 seats after the election (and further expulsions bringing it to 78), the rebel group of 58–64 crossed the two‑thirds threshold, meaning they could claim to be the “real” TMC legislature party without losing their seats.
This turned the internal conflict into a constitutional and legal battle:
- The Speaker recognised the rebel bloc inside the Assembly.
- The party’s symbol and official status remained with the TMC headquarters, leaving the matter partly to the Election Commission.
Leadership Turmoil
The crisis unfolded alongside:
- ED summons Abhishek Banerjee in the teacher recruitment scam.
- Dissolution of TMC’s state committees and a leadership overhaul by Mamata, bringing in loyalists and old timers to tighten control.
- Resignations and realignments, including some TMC MPs supporting the BJP-led NDA in Parliament.
The revolt exposed deep fault lines over leadership, access to power, and the party’s future direction after defeat.
What This Means Politically
For Mamata, the fall was deeply personal:
- She lost her 15‑year reign as Chief Minister and her own seat.
- Her party, once seen as unshakeable in Bengal, is now split and weakened.
- Her national role, as a key leader of the non‑BJP opposition, is diminished, especially after MPs broke away and supported the NDA.
Yet, she still commands a significant vote bank and a strong base among many sections of the population, especially in urban Bengal and among sections of the minority community. Whether she remains the face of the TMC long term will depend on how she rebuilds the party after the split.
Impact on the TMC
The TMC now faces an existential crisis:
- Organisational crisis: The party structure from the grassroots up is shaken, with parallel claims to leadership.
- Electoral crisis: It went from 215 seats to 80, losing its dominance and many traditional strongholds.
- Image crisis: The combination of corruption scandals and polarisation has damaged its earlier image as a secular, welfare‑oriented, regional party.
The party’s future may depend on whether it can reform internally, address corruption allegations, and rebuild trust with voters.
Impact on the BJP
The BJP’s win in Bengal is strategically huge:
- It has now formed governments in many states and closed one of the last major regional strongholds against it.
- Bengali politics will now be shaped by a BJP government at the state level, with TMC as the main opposition (albeit split).
Possible risks for the BJP include:
- Living up to expectations on jobs, land issues, and corruption.
- Managing communal tensions in a plural society where communal polarisation helped it win but can be destabilising if it continues unchecked.
Impact on Congress and Other Parties
The Congress and smaller parties in Bengal remain marginal:
- The Congress won only 2 seats in 2026, despite hopes that a TMC collapse would revive it.
- The revolt inside the TMC raised speculation about a possible merger or alliance with Congress, but rebel leaders have so far said they are not merging with Congress.
The Congress thus faces a difficult choice: whether to try to build a new coalition in Bengal or accept a secondary role in a BJP‑TMC bipolar contest.
Impact on Citizens and Public Interest
Governance and Accountability
- The fall of a long‑ruling party can bring fresh ideas, new leadership, and scrutiny of past decisions.
- However, frequent political upheavals and internal splits can also disrupt long‑term planning in education, health, and infrastructure.
Corruption and Scams
- The teacher recruitment scam and other allegations have affected thousands of young job seekers who felt they were denied fair opportunities.
- Public interest demands transparent investigations, proper punishment if guilt is proved, and reform of recruitment processes to restore trust.
Social Cohesion
- Increased religious polarisation has affected social relations in many areas.
- Citizens across communities have expressed concern about communal tensions and want a political culture that respects diversity and reduces hate.
Arguments in Favour and Criticisms of the TMC Era
Supporting Arguments
Supporters of the TMC argue:
- The TMC ended 34 years of Left rule, bringing new energy and regional dignity to Bengal politics.
- It introduced several welfare schemes that benefited women, students, and the poor.
- It defended Bengal’s identity and opposed perceived central overreach and communal politics of the BJP.
Critics Argue:
- The party became increasingly authoritarian, with centralised decision‑making and suppression of dissent.
- Corruption in recruitment, land deals, and other areas undermined public trust and fairness.
- Over time, the TMC also engaged in polarising politics to consolidate votes, contributing to communal tensions.
What Could Happen Next
Short Term
- The TMC split may continue to play out in courts, with the Election Commission deciding on the party symbol and official status.
- The BJP government will begin implementing its agenda, while the divided TMC struggles to function as a coherent opposition inside and outside the Assembly.
- Abhishek Banerjee’s legal troubles and the teacher recruitment probe will remain high‑profile issues, influencing public debate and intra‑party dynamics.
Medium Term
- If the TMC cannot heal its internal rifts, Bengal politics may shift to a BJP‑vs‑fragmented‑opposition scenario, weakening the opposition’s ability to challenge the BJP at both state and national levels.
- Alternatively, if Mamata and loyalists manage to rebuild the party, and the rebels fail to sustain a separate structure, the TMC could recover and contest future elections as a reformed, if smaller, force.
Long Term
- A stable two‑party system between the BJP and the TMC could emerge, but only if the TMC reunifies or a new credible opposition forms.
- The broader lesson for Indian politics: even strong regional parties backed by a charismatic leader are vulnerable to corruption, polarisation, and organisational decay if they do not renew themselves.
Final Thought
The rise and fall of the Trinamool Congress and Mamata Banerjee is a story of how a grassroots movement can become a dominant force, and how that dominance can collapse under the weight of corruption allegations, polarisation, internal tensions, and public fatigue.
For readers in West Bengal and across India, the most important question is no longer who won the 2026 election, but how Bengal’s politics will evolve after 15 years of TMC rule, and whether any party can learn from this cycle to build a more honest, inclusive, and accountable democracy.