How One of India’s Most Successful Female Politicians Is Losing Her Party

How one of India s most – Political parties often endure election losses. Yet, they frequently find it difficult to maintain stability after a swift shift in power. This is the current challenge facing the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, a state home to over 100 million people in eastern India. Just a month after being ousted from office, the party is grappling with a significant internal revolt, potential fragmentation among its MPs, and growing skepticism about the authority of its leader, Mamata Banerjee. A once-dominant force in regional politics, the TMC now appears to be unraveling at an alarming pace.

Banerjee, a trailblazer in Indian politics, has long been a symbol of resilience and charisma. In 2011, she achieved what many considered improbable: ending 34 years of Communist Party of India (CPI) rule in West Bengal. This marked the collapse of one of the world’s longest-serving left-wing governments, a feat that earned her a place on Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people globally. Her 15-year tenure transformed the TMC into the nation’s most successful regional party, while also positioning her as a formidable opposition leader.

However, the recent elections have upended this narrative. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Narendra Modi, swept into power in West Bengal, ending the TMC’s 15-year rule. The victory was attributed to a combination of anti-incumbency sentiment, religious polarization, and disputes over electoral roll management. Despite this, the TMC did not vanish entirely. It secured 26 million votes—only three million less than the BJP—and retained approximately 40% of the popular vote. With 80 legislators in the state assembly and 28 MPs, the party remains a considerable political entity. Yet, its cohesion is now under threat.

The Fracturing Within

Inside the state legislature, the situation has deteriorated rapidly. Less than a month after the election, roughly three-quarters of the TMC’s legislators defected, challenging both Banerjee and her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, who is regarded as her successor. The rebels took control of the party’s legislative wing, installed a new opposition leader, and accused the leadership of forging signatures on crucial documents. This move has signaled a deeper ideological rift, with members questioning the party’s direction and the personal influence of Banerjee.

What began as a state-level rebellion has now spread to the national capital. A reported 20 of the TMC’s 28 MPs have reportedly written to the speaker of parliament, seeking to break away from the party’s parliamentary group and align with the BJP-led ruling alliance. If these defections are confirmed, the crisis will no longer be confined to the legislature. Instead, it will escalate into a existential threat to the party’s leadership and unity. The TMC, once a bastion of political strength, now faces a leadership vacuum and internal disarray.

A Starkest Symbol of Decline

The party’s decline is evident in its grassroots support. In Falta, a constituency where the TMC had won with 56% of the vote in 2021, the party failed to even field a candidate for a repoll. This marks a dramatic shift from its previous dominance. Similarly, a public meeting held earlier this year attracted only a few hundred attendees, a far cry from the massive crowds that once validated Banerjee’s political power. Such events underscore a growing disconnect between the party and its constituents.

Meanwhile, TMC leaders are facing legal scrutiny. Corruption charges have led to the arrest of several figures, with them being paraded in public as symbols of the party’s alleged mismanagement. Party offices are increasingly empty, and organisational networks are being dismantled. Even those who once commanded respect and authority are now being publicly criticized in their strongholds. The erosion of trust is accelerating, leaving the TMC in a precarious position.

“What has happened is quite unprecedented,” says Dwaipayan Bhattacharyya, a political scientist. “The TMC has lost the government, and Banerjee’s personal election defeat in Kolkata has tarnished a political brand. As a result, many local power brokers are finding themselves vulnerable to rivals, investigations and…”

The speed of the TMC’s collapse points to a fundamental weakness. Unlike the communist movement it displaced in 2011, the party never developed a strong ideological foundation capable of withstanding the loss of power. Its unity has always relied on two pillars: Banerjee’s personal magnetism and the resources of state governance. “The TMC rested on two pillars: Mamata’s brand value and governmental resources,” Bhattacharyya explains. “To maintain control across Bengal, Banerjee relied less on party institutions than on powerful local leaders given autonomy in their own territories.”

This system functioned while the TMC held power. Local strongmen competed fiercely for influence, often creating intense rivalries and even violence within the party. However, power also brought patronage, protection, and, critics argue, opportunities for personal gain. Now that the party has lost its grip on power, these two pillars are weakening. Without Banerjee’s personal appeal or state resources, local leaders are no longer insulated from scrutiny. Their influence is being challenged, and the party’s internal structure is being tested.

The TMC’s struggle reflects a broader trend in Indian regional politics. Once a model of organisational strength, it now mirrors the fate of other parties that have failed to adapt to shifting voter preferences. The defections and public criticism suggest that the party’s ability to maintain loyalty has been compromised. While Banerjee’s leadership once seemed unshakable, the recent election has exposed vulnerabilities that were previously overlooked. The road ahead for the TMC is uncertain, with its future hanging in the balance as it seeks to rebuild or redefine itself in the wake of its current crisis.