Senior TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee has publicly criticized national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and consultancy firm I-PAC for the party's recent electoral losses in West Bengal. This internal conflict has escalated as the party approaches the July 21 Martyrs' Day, with rival factions now organizing separate events amid reports of a significant split among legislators.
The Trinamool Congress is currently navigating its most significant internal crisis since its formation in 1998, as high-profile disagreements within the leadership spill into the public domain. Senior MP Kalyan Banerjee has issued a direct challenge to the party’s national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, and the political consultancy firm I-PAC. The MP attributed the party's recent electoral performance setbacks to a shift in organizational strategy, specifically citing the influence of an office ecosystem located at Camac Street.
Kalyan Banerjee argued that the reliance on external consultants, specifically I-PAC, has disrupted the traditional grassroots culture of the party. According to his statements, this consultant-driven model sidelined experienced party members and created unrealistic expectations regarding candidate selection for assembly polls. The MP suggested that these factors led to widespread internal resentment and contributed to organizational instability during the election process. Additionally, he voiced concerns about the internal handling of party workers, claiming that pressure on organizers to align with specific factions further weakened the party's structure.
The political fallout is now visible at the legislative level. Reports indicate that a significant number of the party's MLAs have aligned with a rebel faction led by former Rajya Sabha MP Ritabrata Banerjee. This group has begun forming a parallel organizational structure, marking a clear division within the party’s ranks. Furthermore, the divide has reached the parliamentary level, with some Lok Sabha MPs reportedly shifting their alignment toward the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.
The tension is expected to reach a symbolic peak on July 21, traditionally observed as Martyrs' Day by the party. For the first time in the organization's history, rival factions are planning to hold separate events, signaling that the rift may be difficult to resolve in the immediate term. Investors and stakeholders in West Bengal's political landscape will be watching for any further legislative realignments, the potential impact on local governance stability, and whether the central leadership can re-establish consensus before upcoming policy or administrative decisions. The primary focus for observers will be the participation numbers and official statements released by the rival camps during the Martyrs' Day programs, as these will likely define the scale of the split.