Beyond Factionalism? TMC Dissidents Cite Misgovernance, Seek Separate Identity

What began as unrest within the Trinamool Congress following an electoral setback is now evolving into a larger political challenge for Mamata Banerjee. Senior TMC leader Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar has sought to frame the growing rebellion not as a personal feud but as a response to concerns over governance, unemployment and law and order in West Bengal. Dissident MPs are reportedly seeking separate seating arrangements in Parliament and signalling a willingness to work with the BJP-led NDA in what they describe as the national interest. Critics argue that the language of "misgovernance" and "lawlessness" is being used to justify a broader political realignment. The rebels now face the challenge of convincing voters that their move is driven by principle rather than political calculation, while Mamata Banerjee must prevent internal dissatisfaction from emerging as a credible alternative power centre within the TMC. NDTV examines the growing faultlines inside Bengal's ruling party and what they could mean for the future of opposition politics in the state.