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Former West Bengal minister Chandrima Bhattacharya revealed on Saturday that she resigned from all positions within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) after party supremo Mamata Banerjee directly questioned her integrity. The flashpoint occurred over the takeover of the party headquarters by a rebel faction—an accusation Bhattacharya said deeply wounded her and left her with no choice but to sever ties.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Bhattacharya stated that Mamata Banerjee called her following Friday’s chaotic developments at the state headquarters and accused her of actively “handing over” Trinamool Bhavan to the breakaway camp led by Ritabrata Banerjee.
The Accusation That Broke Years of Loyalty
Bhattacharya expressed profound sadness over how her years of dedicated service were dismissed in a single phone conversation.
“You saw what happened yesterday. An incident happened at Trinamool Bhavan. After that, Mamata ji spoke to me over the phone. She told me, ‘You handed over Trinamool Bhavan to them.’ This hurt me. There was no need to say this. When questions are being raised about my integrity, it would not be right for me to continue in the party’s top post. There is no question of going to Kalighat again.”
— Chandrima Bhattacharya
The high-profile resignation comes amidst an intensifying internal power struggle within the TMC following its recent Assembly election defeat, as rival factions aggressively battle for control of the party’s organizational infrastructure and financial assets.
Formal Exit From All Party Responsibilities
In an official resignation letter addressed to Mamata Banerjee, Bhattacharya formally relinquished her role as the TMC’s West Bengal State President—a position she had only assumed in June 2026—alongside all other organizational responsibilities.
Bhattacharya's Cut Ties Checklist:
├── Resigned as AITC State President
├── Stepped down from all internal party responsibilities
├── Revoked status as authorized bank account signatory
└── Withdrew authorization before the Election Commission of India
Despite the bitter nature of her exit, Bhattacharya concluded her letter on a respectful note, asserting that she maintains the “highest regard” for the Chief Minister.
Allegations of Secrecy in the Finance Ministry
Immediately after tendering her resignation, Bhattacharya attended a strategy meeting hosted by the Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel faction inside the West Bengal Assembly, effectively cementing her alliance with the breakaway group.
Free from party gag orders, she leveled serious allegations regarding her tenure as the state’s Minister of State for Finance (Independent Charge), claiming she was systematically sidelined from the state’s economic planning:
- The Budget Claim: Bhattacharya alleged that she was completely excluded from the preparation of the state Budget, despite being the one to read the speech on the legislative floor every year.
- Last-Minute Briefings: She claimed she was kept entirely in the dark about the contents of the budget until just a couple of hours before the scheduled presentation.
Bhattacharya concluded by noting that while she holds deeper insights into the structural issues plaguing the state administration, she will refrain from publicizing them as she remains bound by her ministerial oath of secrecy. Her exit signals an unprecedented widening of the factional rift threatening the core leadership of the Trinamool Congress.