The Trinamool Congress (TMC) witnessed an unexpectedly low turnout at its first major political programme inside the West Bengal Assembly premises since the change of government, raising questions over internal cohesion and organisational strength in the post-defeat phase.
The sit-in demonstration, held on Wednesday at the foot of the Ambedkar statue within the Assembly complex, was organised by the TMC legislative party to protest a range of issues, including alleged attacks on party workers across the state, rising cooking gas prices, and the eviction of street vendors. The programme was led by senior leaders including legislative party leader Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, former municipal affairs minister Firhad Hakim, and Beleghata MLA Kunal Ghosh, among others.
However, out of the party’s 80 elected MLAs following the 2026 Assembly elections, only 31 were present at the start of the protest. Even after three additional MLAs joined later, attendance rose to just 34, leaving more than half of the legislative strength absent from what was expected to be a high-profile opposition show of strength. The low participation has triggered speculation within political circles about coordination gaps and internal dissatisfaction within the party.
Adding to the political chatter, observers noted that while slogans such as “Mamata Banerjee Zindabad” and “Trinamool Zindabad” were raised during the sit-in, no slogans in support of party’s General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee were heard, a detail that has further fuelled discussion around evolving dynamics within the party’s leadership structure.
In an attempt to address concerns over the low turnout, Kunal Ghosh stated that several MLAs were engaged in urgent constituency-level responsibilities amid alleged post-poll violence targeting party workers. He said a fact-finding team had been deployed to affected areas across the state, requiring legislators to remain in their respective constituencies. According to him, these pressing obligations prevented a significant number of MLAs from attending the Assembly programme on time.
Meanwhile, the broader political atmosphere in the state remains tense, with reports of intensified legal and administrative action against several TMC leaders following the change in government. Across districts, multiple arrests have been made on charges ranging from extortion and syndicate-related activities to intimidation and other criminal allegations, which the party has described as politically motivated.
As the TMC adjusts to its role in opposition, Wednesday’s Assembly protest — intended as a show of unity and strength—has instead highlighted visible organisational gaps and emerging political fault lines within the party’s ranks.
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