TMC crisis deepens: 58 MLAs disown Abhishek, give surprise offer to Mamata| Ritabrata| LoP| Bengal

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) faced its biggest internal crisis on June 3 after 58 of its 80 MLAs reportedly backed a rebel faction led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee. The rebel group publicly distanced itself from TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and appealed to party chief Mamata Banerjee to serve as their adviser. The faction also staked claim to become the principal opposition party in the West Bengal Assembly.