Former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) president Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday expelled eight senior leaders from the party, including top leaders like Firhad Hakim and Aroop Biswas amid an escalating internal crisis.
The expulsions came less than a day after the leaders were served show-cause notices by the Kalighat faction of the party. Party sources said the disciplinary action was taken before their responses to the notices were received.
Apart from Hakim and Biswas, the list of expelled leaders included Arup Roy, Javed Ahmed Khan, Rathin Ghosh, Biplab Mitra, Sabina Yeasmin and Snehasis Chakraborty.
The move follows their reported association with the rival faction led by TMC MLA and Leader of Oppostion Ritabrata Banerjee, which has been projecting itself as the “real” Trinamool Congress.
Several of these expelled leaders have already joined Ritabrata Banerjee’s camp and have reportedly been included in its newly announced organisational structure.
The political developments gathered pace on Monday when senior leaders, including Firhad Hakim and Aroop Biswas, were seen in the special session of the rival faction at a five star hotel in the eastern fringes of the city.
The event was attended by Howrah MLA Arup Roy, former minister Snehasis Chakraborty and Sabina Yeasmin, further fuelling speculation about a widening split within the party.
The rival faction, in a special session at a five-star hotel in New Town on Monday after the state budget, announced a new national executive committee, removing Mamata Banerjee from the post of chairperson and Abhishek Banerjee from the post of National General Secretary.
Arup Roy was named the new chairperson, while Ritabrata Banerjee and three others were appointed general secretaries.
Firhad Hakim and Aroop Biswas, who have long been regarded as close associates of Mamata Banerjee and among the party’s most influential leaders, were made vice-chairpersons.
Javed Khan, who has long been associated with former chief minister Mamata Banerjee, became one of the general secretaries of the rebel faction.
Snehasis Chakraborty, who had previously announced his retirement from active politics, was also seen in the meeting.
Ritabrata Banerjee has also hinted that more leaders could join his faction in the coming days, suggesting that the political realignment within the TMC may continue.