Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sukhendu Sekhar Roy on Monday resigned from both the Rajya Sabha and the primary membership of the party, delivering a stinging
attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led organisation and fuelling speculation of a deeper rebellion within its ranks. Roy, one of the TMC's most prominent parliamentary faces and a Rajya Sabha member since 2011, said he had sent his resignation letter to party chief Mamata Banerjee. In the letter, he claimed that the people of West Bengal had rejected the Trinamool Congress after 15 years in power and accused the party of corruption and misgovernance. "The electorate of Bengal expressed their absolute lack of confidence in the TMC," Roy wrote. He said he was resigning after accepting what he described as the "historic verdict" delivered by voters.
Mamata In Delhi For INDIA Bloc Meet
The development comes at a politically sensitive moment for the TMC, with Mamata Banerjee currently in Delhi for meetings aimed at strengthening the INDIA bloc and building opposition unity at the national level.
Roy's exit has intensified speculation about growing unrest within the party. Sources claim that nine of the TMC's 13 Rajya Sabha MPs are currently part of a disgruntled camp, while only a handful - including Derek O'Brien, Dola Sen, Sagarika Ghosh and Menaka Guruswamy - are firmly aligned with the party leadership.
Ritabrata Banerjee's Rebellion
The resignation also comes against the backdrop of a major political upheaval following the recent West Bengal Assembly elections. A group of 58 TMC MLAs reportedly broke ranks and backed former party leader Ritabrata Banerjee, who was subsequently selected as Leader of the Opposition after the BJP's victory in the state. The unprecedented rebellion had already raised questions about the cohesion of the party's legislative and organisational structure.
In recent weeks, Roy had hinted that the discontent visible among legislators could eventually extend to Members of Parliament as well. His resignation is likely to be viewed as the strongest indication yet that the unrest may have spread beyond the Assembly.
The TMC leadership has not yet issued a detailed response to Roy's resignation. However, the development is expected to sharpen political debate in West Bengal and provide fresh ammunition to the BJP, which has sought to portray the ruling party as increasingly divided after its electoral defeat.
