Kolkata, May 6, 2026 – In a sign of growing internal unrest within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), senior leaders have openly differed with party supremo Mamata Banerjee’s assessment of the party’s humiliating defeat in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, where the BJP registered a landslide victory to end TMC’s 15-year rule in the state.
The BJP is set to form the government with an impressive tally of around 206-207 seats, while the TMC has been reduced to approximately 80 seats. The results mark a dramatic shift in West Bengal’s political landscape, with 22 out of 35 TMC ministers, including Mamata Banerjee herself, losing their respective seats.
Mamata Banerjee has refused to accept the verdict, describing the BJP’s victory as “immoral” and “illegal.” She has blamed the Election Commission — which she dubbed the “BJP’s commission” — central forces, and alleged large-scale vote looting in over 100 constituencies. Rejecting calls for her resignation as Chief Minister, Banerjee has vowed to fight back, insisting the outcome does not reflect the true mandate of the people.
However, not all voices within the TMC are toeing the official line. Former Rajya Sabha MP and retired IAS officer Jawhar Sircar has publicly attributed the party’s rout to deep-rooted internal issues. Sircar, who had resigned from the party earlier citing similar concerns, stated that the TMC has been “taken over by corrupt people.” He pointed to rampant corruption, “dadagiri” (high-handedness), and the undue influence of certain leaders with minimal contributions to the party’s growth as major factors behind the electoral rout.
In references to his widely discussed resignation letter from September 2024 — triggered by the RG Kar rape-murder case and broader governance failures — Sircar reiterated that these problems were flagged well in advance but were dismissed by the leadership as “propaganda.”
The TMC has distanced itself from Sircar’s remarks, issuing a clarification that such statements represent personal opinions and not the party’s official position.
Roots of the Defeat
Political observers and even some INDIA bloc allies have pointed to widespread public anger over alleged scams, particularly in teacher recruitments, “cut money” culture, syndicate raj, and rising crime as key reasons for the anti-incumbency wave. The perception of unchecked nepotism and governance failures appears to have outweighed other factors in the minds of voters.
Analysts describe the mandate as more of a rejection of 15 years of TMC rule than a pure endorsement of the BJP. Post-poll reports have also highlighted incidents of violence and attacks on TMC offices in several areas as disgruntled supporters vented their frustration.
As the BJP prepares to take charge — with Suvendu Adhikari widely expected to play a prominent role — the TMC faces the challenging task of introspection and rebuilding. Whether the party chooses to address its internal ailments or continues to attribute the loss solely to external “conspiracies” could determine its political future in the state.
The coming days are likely to witness further developments as both sides consolidate their positions in the new political reality of West Bengal.
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