The Trinamool Congress (TMC) plunged deeper into leadership chaos Friday when former minister Jyoti Priya Mallick quit all party posts,citing severe health woes. At same time,Goutam Deb, a senior figure from North Bengal,resigned as Siliguri's mayor . These exits follow an organizational shake-up led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Mallick,a veteran MLA and ex-food minister,stepped down due to worsening health — high blood sugar,kidney troubles. "No point holding a post when you can't work," he said. His move comes after a new role on reformed working committee,showing party in turmoil.
Deb handed his resignation to the civic body's commissioner, giving up his official perks. His departure echoes earlier ones by TMC leaders,like former mayors in Kolkata and Bidhannagar. Signals unrest in party ranks .
Backdrop: TMC's rocky times,electoral defeats to BJP in state and national elections. Mallick, once a top player,lost big in 2026 assembly polls,defeated in Habra by over 31,000 votes. His troubles grew after an October 2023 arrest over a ration scandal; got bail January 2025 after 15 months locked up .
Though legally embattled,Mallick kept Banerjee's backing,who had defended him against vendetta claims. But recent resignations show cracks in TMC. 58 dissident MLAs, led by Ritabrata Banerjee,split from leadership, claiming legislative dominance. This split reached Parliament,where 20 rebel MPs sought merger with Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI),adding to party's chaos .
Mallick didn't comment on rifts but noted dissenters' motives . "No disillusionment with Mamata Banerjee. Those revolting are seasoned leaders, they have reasons," he said .
BJP spokesman Debjit Sarkar dismissed resignations' impact,saying Mallick's exit wouldn't clear past charges. "He will be judged," Sarkar said,hinting at BJP's plans to exploit TMC's internal woes .
Deb’s resignation stirs questions about Siliguri Municipal Corporation's future, with board's term ending February. BJP's state tourism minister Shankar Ghosh slammed TMC's governance as "reflection of incompetence." Hopes new leadership will fix Siliguri, vital urban hub in West Bengal.
Events put TMC at critical crossroads,grappling with dissent while facing pressure from rivals…
