Over 50% of TMC MLAs skip stir against Bengal post-poll violence

KOLKATA: Signs of a possible rift within TMC surfaced on Wednesday as the party's first major protest programme following its defeat in the 2026 Bengal assembly elections witnessed a low turnout of legislators, even as there were mass resignations by councillors in two party-controlled municipalities.

Only 36 of the TMC's 80 MLAs attended the sit-in near the Ambedkar statue on the assembly premises, organised in protest against alleged post-poll violence, "bulldozer culture" and hawker eviction drives undertaken by the newly formed govt.

MLA Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, who attended, said some could not come as they were busy addressing post-poll violence issues in their own districts.

Incidentally, during a party meet at Kalighat on Tuesday, several legislators had reportedly voiced concerns over the party's strategy, arguing that closed-door discussions alone would not help rebuild public support.

Meanwhile, in North 24 Parganas, mass resignations of Trinamool councillors hit the Kanchrapara and Halishahar municipalities. In Kanchrapara, 15 of the 24 councillors submitted their resignations, while in Halisahar, sources said 16 of 23 councillors stepped down collectively.

Sources added that the BJP MLA from Bijpur, Sudipta Das, recently held a meeting with municipality officials. The decision to resign was finalised during a meeting of TMC councillors in Kalyani on Sunday.