02 June,2026 05:44 PM IST | Kolkata | mid-day online correspondent
Banerjee asserted that the dharna would continue till the evening as scheduled. Pic/ PTI
Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday began a day-long dharna in central Kolkata to protest against the alleged post-poll attacks on party workers and leaders following the BJP's victory in the recent Assembly elections, reported PTI.
Banerjee reached the protest site at Esplanade's Y-channel after the Kolkata Police denied permission to hold the dharna at the adjacent Rani Rashmoni Road.
Addressing supporters with a megaphone, Banerjee claimed that the administration had not allowed the TMC to make proper arrangements for the protest.
"We were not given permission to set up a stage or use microphones," Banerjee said while speaking at the dharna site.
The protest witnessed chaotic scenes as TMC workers raised slogans during Banerjee's address.
Senior party leaders, including Firhad Hakim, Madan Mitra, Derek O'Brien, Kalyan Banerjee and Dola Sen, were present alongside the former chief minister during the demonstration.
However, the absence of several newly elected MLAs who won on TMC tickets was noticeable at the protest venue.
Banerjee asserted that the dharna would continue till the evening as scheduled.
The protest is being held against the alleged attack on her nephew and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday, incidents of alleged post-poll violence and the eviction of hawkers, the party claimed.
Political circles in West Bengal are abuzz with speculation over whether the TMC is heading towards a 'Shiv Sena moment' after reports of growing internal dissent surfaced following the party's defeat to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the recent Assembly elections, reported IANS.
The murmurs of discontent within the TMC have drawn comparisons with the splits witnessed in Maharashtra's Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) between 2022 and 2023, where breakaway factions were later recognised as the original parties by constitutional authorities.
IANS reports suggest that nearly 50 TMC MLAs are currently unhappy with the party leadership, fuelling speculation of a possible rebellion within the organisation.
Under the anti-defection law, at least two-thirds of the party's legislators would need to split together to avoid disqualification. For the TMC, that number stands at around 53 MLAs out of its original strength of 80 in the Assembly.
The party's effective strength has already reduced to 78 after two MLAs were expelled for allegedly exposing forged signatures in a party resolution related to appointments of the Leader of Opposition, deputy leaders and the chief whip in the Assembly.
The developments have drawn parallels with the Shiv Sena and NCP crises in Maharashtra, where factions led by Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar eventually secured recognition as the "real" parties, reported IANS.
Under the Election Symbols Order, 1968, the Election Commission decides which faction is entitled to claim the original party symbol and identity. The decision is generally based on legislative majority as well as organisational control within the party.
In the Shiv Sena and NCP disputes, both the Election Commission and the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker ruled in favour of the factions commanding majority support among legislators.
Amid the growing unrest, reports of "secret meetings" involving several TMC MLAs outside official party channels have further intensified rumours of a possible split.
Sources also claim that party meetings have witnessed poor attendance, with some gatherings reportedly being cancelled due to lack of quorum.
However, political observers point out that unless at least 53 legislators unite, any rebellion could attract disqualification under the anti-defection law.
The BJP in West Bengal has reportedly ruled out immediately inducting defectors from the TMC, making the possibility of a parallel political platform more likely than a direct merger with the saffron party.
Analysts note that India's political history, from the Congress split in 1969 to recent upheavals in Maharashtra, has shown that legislative numbers combined with strong leadership can dramatically reshape party structures.
For TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, the current developments mark one of the biggest internal challenges in recent years.
Despite the speculation surrounding dissent and factionalism, political observers believe the 71-year-old leader is unlikely to surrender control of the party without a fight.
(With PTI and IANS inputs)
