Will Mamata Banerjee forgive TMC rebels? Party MP answers: 'We are scared that she will...'

In an interview with Hindustan Times, TMC MP Dola Sen addressed whether Mamata Banerjee would forgive leaders who exited during the crisis.

Updated on: Aug 22, 2026, 16:12:01 IST

Written by HT News Desk

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Months after the 15-year rule of Trinamool Congress (TMC) ended in West Bengal, the party is facing internal churn, with its supremo Mamata Banerjee navigating herself and the party through the fractured power structure and a rebel faction. At this juncture, a question arises: Will Banerjee be able to forgive party rebels? TMC MP Dola Sen hinted that it might be a possibility.

TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee during a sit-in protest in Kolkata, in June, 2026. Party MP Dola Sen and others are also present. (File Photo/PTI)

The components that seem to be a roadblock for Banerjee and TMC include the rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, who claims the support of over 60 of TMC's 80 MLAs, and a group of Lok Sabha MPs who have moved to the NCPI.

In an interview with Hindustan Times, MP Dola Sen addressed whether Mamata Banerjee would forgive leaders who exited during the crisis.

"By nature, she generally forgives everyone," Sen said, adding, "Rather, we are scared that she will forgive the traitors also, the renegades also."

Also Read | Back to where it began? TMC crisis triggers talk of merger with Congress, the party Mamata had left in 90s

Mamata Banerjee and TMC's power in Bengal

Mamata Banerjee uprooted the Left's 34 years of rule in West Bengal and came to power in 2011. Since then, the TMC was in power in the state, and for a decade and a half, the administration and party apparatus functioned as a single ecosystem.

Also Read | TMC's Ritabrata Banerjee to remain Leader of Opposition in Bengal Assembly for now: Calcutta HC

Calcutta HC's decision on Bengal LoP

Earlier this week on Tuesday, a division bench of the Calcutta High Court declined to stay the West Bengal assembly speaker's decision recognizing rebel legislator Ritabrata Banerjee as the assembly's leader of the opposition (LoP).

According to an earlier HT report, justices Shampa Sarkar and Ajay Kumar Gupta decided that justice Krishna Rao, who had initially heard TMC legislator Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay's petition against the speaker’s decision, must resolve the matter within two months. Ritabrata Banerjee welcomed the bench's decision.

Also Read | Mamata back as TMC supremo? 'Replaced' by rebels, Didi named as party chief in fresh counter by her faction

West Bengal assembly elections results 2026

In the high-stakes 294-seat West Bengal assembly elections held in April this year, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) defeated the TMC. Mamata Banerjee's party won 80 seats in the polls.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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