TMC Split: Sudip Bandyopadhyay Joins Rebel Group As Mamata Banerjee Initiates 2026 Reshuffle

Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay has joined the party’s rebel group with 19 other MPs. The move has widened the crisis inside TMC after its heavy loss in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. The shift followed hours of talks, speculation, and meetings involving senior leaders in New Delhi and Kolkata.

Earlier, Bandyopadhyay was seen with Satabdi Roy, another TMC rebel MP, in New Delhi. Both reportedly entered Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav’s residence, according to PTI. They had also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah before Bandyopadhyay aligned with the rebel group.

TMC reshuffle follows Sudip Bandyopadhyay rebel move

The Trinamool Congress later announced several organisational changes on Saturday. The decisions came hours after reports about Bandyopadhyay and Roy’s visit to Bhupendra Yadav’s residence. The party has not officially connected the new appointments with the Delhi meeting or the growing rebel activity.

Kunal Ghosh, seen as loyal to the TMC leadership, was made president of North Kolkata organisational district. He replaced Sudip Bandyopadhyay in the post. Senior leaders Saugata Roy and Jyotipriya Mallick were also brought into the party’s National Working Committee.

The party also changed posts in important wings. Alifa Ahmed was given charge of Mahila Trinamool. Mosharraf Hossain was appointed president of the Minority Cell. These changes came as political observers tracked unrest within TMC after its election defeat in West Bengal.

TMC also replaced its youth wing chief during the reshuffle. Arnab Banerjee became the new State Trinamool Youth Congress President. He replaced Saayoni Ghosh in the role. The party did not immediately explain why the youth leadership was changed.

TMC leaders meet at Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence

Before the reshuffle was announced, a key meeting took place at Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence. Mamata Banerjee is the TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister. The gathering drew attention because many senior leaders and legal figures were present there.

Those who reached the residence included TMC National General Secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee. Senior MP Kalyan Banerjee also attended the meeting. Former state minister Chandrima Bhattacharya and former MP Subhashish Chakraborty were among the other leaders present.

The meeting also included advocate Shirsanya Bandopadhyay, son of Kalyan Banerjee. Kunal Ghosh and state minister Shovandeb Chattopadhyay were also present. Their attendance raised further talk about possible high-level discussions inside the party leadership.

However, the agenda of the Kalighat meeting was not officially shared. The party also avoided linking that gathering to the reported Delhi meetings. Even so, the timing of both events has drawn close interest in political circles.

TMC faces questions after Sudip Bandyopadhyay shift

The developments have come as political circles watch senior TMC leaders ahead of important electoral contests. Neither Sudip Bandyopadhyay nor Satabdi Roy has publicly commented on the reported meeting with Bhupendra Yadav. Their silence has added to the speculation around TMC’s internal position.

Bandyopadhyay had long been seen as close to Mamata Banerjee. That made the decision more notable within the party. His move to the rebel camp with 19 MPs has placed fresh pressure on the leadership after the 2026 Assembly defeat.

Amid talk of a rift, TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee played down concerns over Bandyopadhyay. He said leaders had left the party earlier too. Banerjee added that such exits would not damage the organisation, as voters would decide the final outcome.

"Many people have left the party before. If Sudip-da has left, so be it. It makes no difference. When elections come, the people will give their verdict," Banerjee said.

Kalyan Banerjee also spoke about the opposition’s place in democracy. He said opposition parties must question the government and raise public issues. He argued that their role is to highlight people’s concerns, not support those in power.

Banerjee also attacked the BJP leadership during his remarks. He alleged that the ruling party was trying to weaken opposition forces across India. He further claimed that democratic institutions were facing pressure under the present political climate.

According to Banerjee, the BJP was trying to reduce space for opposition parties. He said this was happening at both national and state levels. His comments came while TMC dealt with internal changes and reports of senior leaders meeting BJP figures.

The TMC has now moved to fill key posts while facing rebellion within its ranks. Sudip Bandyopadhyay’s shift, the Delhi meetings, and the Kalighat talks have kept the party under scrutiny. The leadership has not disclosed the reasons behind several changes.