Trinamool Congress faced an uncomfortable moment inside the West Bengal Assembly on Wednesday after more than half of its MLAs remained absent from the party’s first major protest programme since losing power in the state. The low turnout at the high-profile TMC At Bidhansabha demonstration has intensified speculation about growing unease and internal cracks within the opposition camp.
The protest, organised beneath the Ambedkar statue inside the Assembly premises, was called to highlight issues including alleged attacks on TMC workers across Bengal, rising LPG prices and recent hawker eviction drives. Senior leaders including Shovandeb Chattopadhyay, Firhad Hakim and Beliaghata MLA Kunal Ghosh attended the demonstration.
However, the biggest talking point quickly became the poor attendance of party legislators. Out of the 80 MLAs elected by the Trinamool Congress in the recent Assembly polls, only 31 were present when the programme began. Three more legislators joined later, taking the final attendance to just 34.
The unexpectedly thin presence at the opposition’s first Assembly protest after the BJP formed government in Bengal has raised serious questions over the intensity of TMC’s political resistance and the morale within the party organisation.
Political observers also noticed another significant detail during the protest. While slogans such as “Mamata Banerjee Zindabad” and “Trinamool Zindabad” were repeatedly raised, not once was the slogan “Abhishek Banerjee Zindabad” heard at the venue.
The absence of slogans backing Abhishek Banerjee has sparked fresh discussion over his current role and influence inside the party, especially at a time when internal debates within the Trinamool leadership are reportedly intensifying.
Facing criticism over the low turnout, Kunal Ghosh later attempted to explain the absence of so many MLAs. Speaking to the media, he claimed several legislators were unable to attend because they were dealing with “post-poll political violence” in their respective constituencies.
According to Ghosh, many party workers have allegedly been displaced from their homes following the change of government. He also said members of the party’s fact-finding teams were visiting affected areas across the state, keeping several MLAs occupied outside Kolkata.
The protest comes at a time when multiple Trinamool leaders across Bengal are facing police action in cases linked to alleged extortion, syndicate operations, intimidation and other criminal accusations after the political transition in the state.
Over the past 48 hours, police crackdowns and arrests involving several influential TMC leaders have put the party under growing pressure. While the Trinamool leadership has termed the developments “political vendetta,” political insiders believe some leaders are currently avoiding public appearances due to fear of legal action.
The recent detention of Bidhannagar councillor and influential TMC figure Debraj Chakraborty has further rattled the party organisation. Meanwhile, TMC leaders Paresh Ram Das from Canning West and Kailash Mishra from Bali have already approached the Calcutta High Court seeking legal protection against possible criminal proceedings and FIRs.
With the opposition camp struggling to project unity during its first major Assembly mobilisation after losing power, the low MLA turnout has added to speculation about the challenges currently confronting the Trinamool Congress both politically and organisationally.
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