Double blow for TMC: Poor MLA turnout at protest against ‘bulldozer culture’, mass resignations in civic bodies

KOLKATA: Signs of unease within the Trinamool Congress surfaced on Wednesday as the party's first major protest programme following its defeat in the 2026 Bengal assembly elections witnessed low turnout by legislators.

Moreover, simultaneous mass resignations by councillors in two Trinamool-controlled municipalities triggered fresh speculation over emerging cracks within the party.

Only 36 of the party's 80 MLAs attended the sit-in protest near the Ambedkar statue on the assembly premises on Wednesday. The TMC legislators were protesting against alleged post-poll violence, ‘bulldozer culture', and hawker eviction drives undertaken by the newly formed state govt. The thin attendance drew political attention at a time TMC is looking to revive its grassroots presence in the state.

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

Among those present were senior legislators Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, Firhad Hakim, Kunal Ghosh, Nayana Banerjee, Sandipan Ghosh and Ritabrata Banerjee. Chattopadhyay said some legislators could not attend as they were busy addressing post-poll violence issues in their respective 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. They stressed the need for the party to return to aggressive street-level mobilisation and reconnect directly with the electorate.

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

Also read: Pushpa only present in EVMs, TMC’s Falta bastion set for turn

Insiders revealed that discontent had been brewing within sections of the municipal leadership since the assembly poll results, amid complaints over the absence of active leadership and concerns regarding civic functioning. Sources added that Bijpur BJP MLA Sudipta Das recently held a meeting with municipality officials. The decision to resign was finalised during a meeting of Trinamool councillors in Kalyani on Sunday.

In Halisahar municipality, 16 councillors led by Raju Sahani, in the presence of the deputy chairman, attended an emergency meeting at the municipal boardroom on Wednesday afternoon before tendering their resignations collectively.

The resignations have intensified speculation over a possible political realignment, including whether some councillors may eventually switch allegiance to the BJP, even as the Trinamool leadership maintained a strict silence on the developments.