Amid an escalating rebellion that has engulfed the Trinamool Congress following its crushing defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections, party supremo Mamata Banerjee has struck a defiant note, declaring that only her death could prevent her from continuing the political fight.
The crisis has deepened after a majority of the party's 80 MLAs broke away under the leadership of Ritabrata Banerjee, while a separate bloc of Lok Sabha MPs also distanced itself from the Trinamool Congress, triggering a battle over which faction represents the "real" party.
Addressing supporters, the former West Bengal chief minister described the dissidents as "traitors" and asserted that the Trinamool Congress election symbol would remain with her faction, signalling that the dispute is likely to move into a prolonged legal battle.
"The party symbol won't go anywhere. If you want to stop me, you need to kill me," she said.
Banerjee's troubles intensified on Saturday when Chandrima Bhattacharya, the Trinamool Congress' West Bengal president and one of her prominent loyalists, resigned from the party. Bhattacharya was later seen alongside the faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, whose supporters took control of the party's Kolkata headquarters on Friday.
Commenting on the resignation, Mamata Banerjee said, "Chandrima Bhattacharya has resigned today. She had already informed me of the actual situation - that she would resign - because her son had previously joined hands with an anti-Trinamool faction."
While acknowledging Bhattacharya's decision, Banerjee ruled out any possibility of joining the rebel camp despite its reported offer to give her an advisory role.
"That is something she (Chandrima Banerjee) is free to do, but I will not join hands with them," she said.
She alleged that those who had left the party did so under pressure but maintained that neither she nor the Trinamool Congress would yield.
"But I will not bow down before the BJP, and my party will not bow down before any pressure," she added.
Referring to Friday's takeover of the party headquarters, Banerjee defended her faction's claim over the premises.
"To those who went to the Trinamool Congress office yesterday and locked it, I say this: we had rented that office. It was leased to us until October 2027. An individual may leave the party, but the institution itself does not cease to exist. It is the party's property. I cannot simply take it over. No one can forcibly seize the property of 'Ma, Mati, Manush'," she said.
Banerjee also reiterated that the Trinamool Congress remains ideologically opposed to the BJP and questioned how elected representatives could abandon the party so soon after the Assembly polls.
"The symbol was given by me. I was the signatory for your nominations in the 2026 elections. How did you turn traitor within two months of the election? It should have some limit. You are with the BJP right now, which can't go on like this, as the Trinamool's ideology is anti-BJP," she said.
Following Chandrima Bhattacharya's departure, Banerjee announced that she had assumed responsibility for leading the party at both the national and state levels.
She also declared that the party office operating from her residence would function as the Trinamool Congress' principal office.
The wave of defections began after the party's defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections. Rebel legislators criticised Banerjee's leadership style, while indicating that their discontent was largely centred on the growing influence of her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, within the organisation.
More than 60 MLAs, over 20 Lok Sabha MPs and at least three Rajya Sabha MPs have since announced their separation from the Banerjee-led party.
Bhattacharya's resignation came only weeks after she had been appointed president of the Trinamool Congress' West Bengal unit.
In explaining her decision, she said she would always retain the highest regard for Mamata Banerjee but cited a breakdown of confidence within the party.
"Where there is no faith, where there is no trust, it is not possible to work. That is why we resigned," she said.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has directed both rival factions of the Trinamool Congress to submit their respective claims and counterclaims by 5.30 pm on July 6.
