Barring a few, most heavyweight former ministers from Mamata Banerjee’s previous cabinet have left her to join the rebel majority camp in Trinamool Congress led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee. Chandrima Bhattacharya, former Minister of State for Finance, resigned from all party posts after losing in the recent Assembly polls and joined the rebel camp.
Bhattacharya cited Mamata Banerjee questioning her loyalty as a reason for leaving. She accused Banerjee of hindering her independence while serving as the Minister of State for Finance. The majority of Mamata Banerjee’s former cabinet members, including Firhad Hakim, Aroop Biswas, and Javed Ahmed Khan, are now part of the rebel faction.
Among these former ministers, Hakim, Khan, Saha, and Roy are still elected legislators. Arup Roy, a four-time legislator, was appointed as the chairman of Trinamool Congress’ National Working Committee by the rebel faction. Notably, former ministers Bratya Basu and Dr. Sashi Panja, who have not officially joined the rebel camp, have remained silent about their allegiance post the Assembly polls.
Madan Mitra, another former minister and legislator, has openly expressed loyalty to Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee. Following Bhattacharya’s exit, Mamata Banerjee has not named a new state president for the party.
