NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said that leaders who defected from the party will not be allowed to return.Addressing a rally on Martyrs’ Day in Kolkata, Mamata said she has “many people” to fill the places of leaders who jumped ship after the TMC suffered a huge setback in the Assembly elections.”I challenge them to join the BJP. I have no problem with that; in fact, I will be very happy. I have many people to fill their place,” Mamata said.During her address, Mamata also advised opposition parties to unite under INDIA bloc to fight against BJP.”I want everyone to unite under the INDIA alliance in West Bengal to fight the BJP. I have no ego,” Mamata said.The remarks came as TMC observed its 21st July Martyrs’ Day at Birla Planetarium in Kolkata to commemorate the 13 Youth Congress workers who were killed in police firing during a protest under the Left Front regime in 1993. TMC is facing its biggest organisational crisis since its formation in 1998. Several senior leaders and MLAs have joined a rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, with many attributing their exit to Abhishek Banerjee’s growing influence within the party.The rebellion has also reached Parliament, where several Lok Sabha MPs have broken away from the Mamata Banerjee-led camp. With rival factions now operating parallel organisational structures, the leadership tussle has emerged as the defining challenge facing the party.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDelhi Police Examine 250+ Videos To Identify Suspects After CJP Protest Injures Over 118 PersonnelFact Check: Northern Railway Says Viral Stone-Pelting Video Does Not Show India’s Hydrogen TrainSikkim Tunnel Collapse: 8 Dead, Over 18 Feared Trapped As Methane Gas Leak Hampers Rescue OperationsIndia Condemns Russian Missile Strike On Cargo Ship After Four Indian Seafarers KilledNTA Calls Viral NEET-UG OMR Sheets Fake, Warns Of Strict Legal ActionProtesters React As CJP’s ‘Chalo Sansad’ March Draws Thousands | Jantar Mantar’Women Were Beaten Like Animals’: CJP Protesters After ‘Lathi-Charge’ By RAF, Delhi PoliceCJP Claims Wangchuk’s Wife Assaulted; Amit Shah Meets Dharmendra Pradhan Amid CJP Sansad MarchJP Nadda To Meet CJP Leaders As Centre Initiates Dialogue Amid Parliament MarchSonam Wangchuk’s Latest Hunger Strike Note Shifts Focus To Accountability, Parliament Assurance123PhotostoriesJanhvi Kapoor turns heads at India vs England cricket match in a brown pinstripe Ralph Lauren suit12 foods that accidentally changed historyDid you know obesity could make you unemployed? New study finds half a million Brits may be ‘too fat to work’From having no work for three years after quitting Sasural Simar Ka to wife Dipika Kakar supporting him financially; When Shoaib Ibrahim spoke about his struggles, career and life10 traditional protein-rich dal dishes and calories per servingIndia has 5 Jantar Mantars, but only one is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; here’s where they are7 Australian courtyard house design ideas for modern homesWhy are chips packets filled with air? The real reason has nothing to do with fooling customersThe ‘luckiest garden’: Woman discovers dozens of rare clovers, including seven-leaf wonders, found in a single backyardSitarist Rishab Sharma’s Rs 35.8 lakh ‘Ram Janmabhoomi’ watch quietly stole the spotlight from Ranbir Kapoor at the ‘Ramayan’ event in Delhi123Hot PicksMMU ET 2026 resultPNB LBO RecruitmentEl NiñoE20 petrolSonam WangchukCBI Funds ManagementHimachal school holidayDCET Round 1 option entryPune rapeTop TrendingWWE Raw HighlightsAbhijeet DipkeDelhi Cylinder BlastIndia US Trade DealDelhi Farmers ProtestPune Student Sexual AssaultSBI Funds ManagementDiljit DosanjhTripura DGP DeathIND U19 vs Sri Lanka U19
NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said that leaders who defected from the party will not be allowed to return.Addressing a rally on Martyrs’ Day in Kolkata, Mamata said she has “many people” to fill the places of leaders who jumped ship after the TMC suffered a huge setback in the Assembly elections.“I challenge them to join the BJP. I have no problem with that; in fact, I will be very happy. I have many people to fill their place,” Mamata said.During her address, Mamata also advised opposition parties to unite under INDIA bloc to fight against BJP.“I want everyone to unite under the INDIA alliance in West Bengal to fight the BJP. I have no ego,” Mamata said.The remarks came as TMC observed its 21st July Martyrs’ Day at Birla Planetarium in Kolkata to commemorate the 13 Youth Congress workers who were killed in police firing during a protest under the Left Front regime in 1993. TMC is facing its biggest organisational crisis since its formation in 1998. Several senior leaders and MLAs have joined a rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, with many attributing their exit to Abhishek Banerjee‘s growing influence within the party.The rebellion has also reached Parliament, where several Lok Sabha MPs have broken away from the Mamata Banerjee-led camp. With rival factions now operating parallel organisational structures, the leadership tussle has emerged as the defining challenge facing the party.
