India
-Gaurav Sharma
The Trinamool Congress on Monday removed two sitting MLAs, Sandipan Saha and Ritabrata Banerjee, from primary membership with immediate effect over alleged anti-party conduct. The step follows growing talk of unease among several leaders after the Trinamool Congress was voted out of office following the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections.
Party sources linked the disciplinary action to a poor turnout at a key strategy meeting at Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat home in Kolkata on Sunday. Only 20 of the Trinamool Congress’s 80 legislators were present, with both Saha and Ritabrata among those who stayed away despite instructions.
The Trinamool Congress expelled MLAs Sandipan Saha and Ritabrata Banerjee from primary membership due to alleged anti-party conduct, citing their absence from a crucial strategy meeting at Mamata Banerjee’s Kolkata residence and public comments deemed harmful to the party.
Trinamool Congress explusion linked to missed meeting and internal dissent
In a formal note, the Trinamool Congress said Sandipan Saha and Ritabrata Banerjee skipped the Kalighat meeting and also made public comments viewed as harmful for the organisation. The statement said their remarks were “prejudicial to the interests” of the Trinamool Congress and warranted immediate action by the party’s authorised leadership.
The Trinamool Congress communication added that “After due consideration of the matter, the competent authority of AITC has decided to expel you from the (primary) membership of the Party with immediate effect.” It further declared, “Consequently, you shall cease to hold any position, responsibility, or privilege associated with the Party from the date of issuance of this notice.”
Trinamool Congress meeting, Abhishek Banerjee attack and ‘fake signature’ row
According to party functionaries, the Trinamool Congress originally blamed the thin attendance on tensions after an attack on national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur last week. The party said several MLAs were unable to travel. Mamata Banerjee later held informal discussions with those who came to the Kalighat residence after the meeting.
Sandipan Saha, however, publicly defended skipping the Trinamool Congress meeting and argued that proper norms were ignored while convening it. Saha also raised questions about Abhishek Banerjee over an ongoing “fake signature” probe, suggesting there were unresolved issues regarding documents submitted to the Assembly and subsequent scrutiny.
“A meeting has been held before. It included a resolution on who would be the party leader, deputy leader, and chief whip. Now, despite being in power for 15 years, this resolution was submitted to the Assembly without following the procedures. Then, it was scrutinised because the process wasn’t followed as per protocol. Now, the subjudice has been passed. Now, another meeting has been called. Was this meeting called after reviewing the procedures?” Sandipan told news agency ANI.
Trinamool Congress MLA profiles and electoral records
Ritabrata Banerjee, once a Rajya Sabha member from the Communist Party of India (Marxist), joined the Trinamool Congress in 2017. Ritabrata later became MLA from Uluberia Purba, defeating Bharatiya Janata Party nominee Rudra Prasad Banerjee by more than 11,800 votes in the West Bengal Assembly elections.
Sandipan Saha represents Entally and is the son of former Trinamool Congress legislator Swarna Kamal Saha. In the most recent state polls, Sandipan Saha beat BJP candidate Priyanka Tibrewal by over 34,000 votes. Both Saha and Ritabrata figured among about 60 Trinamool Congress MLAs who skipped Sunday’s meeting, which ultimately triggered the disciplinary move.
The expulsion of two sitting MLAs underlines current strain within the Trinamool Congress as it adjusts to life outside government after the 2026 West Bengal elections. With questions raised over internal procedures, attendance at key meetings, and ongoing probes, the party leadership is signalling a firm line on discipline among its legislators.
