All India Trinamool Congress is facing one of its biggest organisational crises at the grassroots level after as many as 101 councillors reportedly resigned from several municipalities across West Bengal, while 17 councillors and local leaders linked to the party have been arrested in recent weeks over allegations ranging from extortion to corruption.
The political tremors intensified on May 25, after eight Trinamool councillors from the Diamond Harbour Municipality submitted their resignations together. The development has generated massive political attention because Diamond Harbour is widely regarded as the stronghold of Abhishek Banerjee, the party’s national general secretary and nephew of Mamata Banerjee.
The wave of resignations comes amid growing reports of internal rebellion, dissatisfaction among local leaders, factionalism and alleged public anger against corruption and syndicate politics within Trinamool-controlled civic bodies.
101 councillors quit across Bengal municipalities
According to figures emerging from different municipalities, resignations have been reported from several urban local bodies across the state:
North Barrackpore Municipality – 15 councillors
Garulia Municipality – 18 councillors
Contai Municipality – 14 councillors
Halisahar Municipality – 16 councillors
Bhatpara Municipality – 30 councillors
Diamond Harbour Municipality – 8 councillors
In total, 101 councillors are reported to have resigned, dealing a major blow to the party’s municipal network.
Simultaneously, reports indicate that 17 councillors and local-level leaders associated with the ruling party have been arrested across Bengal in recent weeks. The arrests, linked to allegations of extortion, corruption and illegal local operations, have intensified pressure on the party leadership.
The developments indicate growing unrest within the party’s grassroots structure, especially in municipalities where local dissatisfaction appears to be surfacing more openly after recent political setbacks.
Diamond Harbour unrest raises questions
The resignations in Diamond Harbour have attracted particular attention because the region has long been projected as one of Abhishek Banerjee’s strongest political zones. Many say that visible rebellion within such a politically significant region reflects deeper organisational strain within the party.
Many also point towards rising public resentment over allegations of local syndicate culture, extortion networks and corruption, issues that opposition parties have repeatedly raised against Trinamool’s municipal ecosystem.
Suspended former TMC spokesperson Riju Dutta reacted sharply on social media, claiming the party was “falling like a house of cards” as councillors continued to step down across municipalities.
BJP attacks TMC over civic chaos
Reacting to the developments, Minister Agnimitra Paul launched a sharp attack on the resigning councillors and questioned their accountability towards the public.
“This clearly shows how irresponsible they are, that when they were supposed to be with people, they behaved in this manner,” she said while criticising the political instability unfolding in municipal bodies.
The crisis reportedly prompted Mamata Banerjee to convene meetings with councillors from multiple municipalities, including Bidhannagar, Dum Dum and Baranagar, amid fears of further defections and internal unrest.
According to sources, Banerjee delivered a stern message to party workers and councillors, stating that the party did not need those who remained loyal only during victories and abandoned the organisation after electoral setbacks.
Sources within the party also claimed that concerns were raised regarding the alleged illegal detention of some councillors, and legal options were being explored by the leadership.
Major stress test for Trinamool’s municipal machinery
The mass resignations and arrests are now being seen as one of the clearest signs yet of stress within Trinamool’s municipal structure after the Assembly election results. What was once considered an unshakeable grassroots machinery is now witnessing visible turbulence, defections and internal dissent across several civic bodies.
With unrest spreading even into politically symbolic regions like Diamond Harbour, the developments have intensified questions over the cohesion of the ruling party’s local network and its ability to retain control over Bengal’s municipal strongholds.
