VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html ‘Entering H1-B lottery at very high rate’: Indian students may face tougher path to US jobs under new visa rule, says CEO Delcy Rodriguez: Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez arrives in India on 5-day visit | India News Lamine Yamal injury: Luis de la Fuente gives major update ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 | Football News India’s 500 GW clean energy goal could create 44 lakh jobs, says study ‘Karuppu’ actress Deepa’s father attacked in Thoothukudi; Police arrest three suspects Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar announces free bus passes for students, private employment exchange, and youth clubs From being Amitabh Bachchan’s heroine to doing item songs for Rs 2500, Aruna Irani opens up on her journey: ‘I did it with courage’ 4th squadron of S-400 ‘starts arriving in India from Russia’, to be deployed soon No relief for Jacqueline Fernandez, court formally frames charges against her, Sukesh Chandrasekhar and 15 others in Rs 200 crore money laundering case 10 rare snakes found in the Amazon rainforest and what travellers should know Delhi’s Malviya Nagar fire: Can the owner be charged with culpable homicide? 18-year-old Chicago student kicked out of graduation ceremony, denied diploma after doing a ‘split’ on stage: ‘Really hurt my feelings’ Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann (File photo) Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said fee hike by private schools will be capped at 5% per annum.He said a law will be introduced in the next assembly session.Addressing the media in Chandigarh, Mann said private schools will not be allowed to increase their fees by more than 5 per cent per annum.He said he received many calls from parents and students complaining that schools harassed them by threatening to withhold roll numbers or certificates until dues were paid.”The Punjab government has decided that fee hike by private schools will be capped at 5 per cent per annum. They can raise fee only by 5 per cent in a year,” Mann said.The chief minister clarified that it will apply to all kinds of fees, not just tuition.He said schools that raised fees by over 15 per cent in the past three years must refund the fee component charged above the 15 per cent increase.He informed reporters that a strict law will be brought in this regard and asserted that it will be the toughest law in the country.Mann said a fine will be imposed on schools that violate the law’s provisions, and continued violations can lead to cancellation of affiliation.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosFirhad Hakim Resigns As Kolkata Mayor, TMC Says Mamata Banerjee ‘Permitted’ HimExpelled TMC Leader Ritabrata Banerjee Appointed LoP, Urges Mamata To Be Rebels’ ‘Chief Advisor”Cease Such Attacks’: India Condemns Kuwait Airport Attack That Killed Indian CitizenHow A Class 12 Student Traced The CBSE-Coempt Tender Trail And Raised Tough QuestionsMamata’s TMC Orders Organisational Reset Amid Growing MLA Revolt Buzz | WatchThe US Just Threatened India With New Tariffs Mid-Negotiation. Here’s The Full Story21 Dead, 47 Rescued After Massive Fire Engulfs Building In Delhi’s Malviya NagarModi Cabinet Approves ATF Price Stabilisation Fund, Unveils Scheme To Reduce Delhi Air PollutionWhy The 58-MLA Rebel Claim Could Become A Major Test For Mamata Banerjee?Delhi Malviya Nagar Restaurant Fire: 21 Dead, 47 Rescued in Massive Blaze | Watch123PhotostoriesKangana Ranaut skips fast fashion, embraces handloom royalty in Gaurang Shah’s majestic Kanjeevaram sareeBenefits of Tulsi Mala according to hindu traditions8 metro corridors driving residential growth and transforming India’s urban housing landscapeGreen anacondas can do THIS? 10 facts that may surprise youKatrina Kaif to Kareena Kapoor Khan: Bollywood actresses who became mothers after 40 and broke stereotypesLalit Modi’s crores-worth London mansion is a 7,000 sq ft cricketing den with signed jerseys, lavish interiors and a private liftUttarakhand’s Valley of Flowers is now open for 2026: Everything travellers need to know before visitingLove vs ego: 7 powerful differences that can make or break your relationship7 royal palaces in India that are now luxury hotelsSummer travel making you feel sick? Try these 8 home remedies that can beat nausea naturally123Hot PicksDelhi Restaurant FireRitabrata BanerjeeDonald TrumpAbhishek BanerjeeJay Silva Cause of DeathWI vs SLMaria SharapovaPat CumminsRitabrata BanerjeeTop TrendingDelhi Malviya Nagar Restaurant FireBengaluru MurderK AnnamalaiPatrik LaineMaja chwalinskaDK ShivakumarKarnataka Family MurderSouth Delhi Building CollapseMamata BanerjeeAbhishek Banerjee ‘Rajat Patidar must be in front of the queue’: Michael Clarke backs RCB captain for India call-up LPG sales down 19% year-on-year in May JoSAA counselling 2026 begins; choice filling opens for JEE Advanced qualified candidates: Check direct link here Pooja Bedi reacts after Shilpa Shinde admits sexual harassment case against Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain producer was ‘false’ Expert says these 5 toddler behaviours may feel frustrating to parents, but they are completely normal Boston Bruins should avoid Kiefer Sherwood trade amid Vancouver Canucks rumors before NHL deadline Mamata Banerjee addresses the first protest rally since losing the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections at Esplanade, Kolkata NEW DELHI: Trinamool means “grassroots” — a name chosen by Mamata Banerjee when she founded the party in 1998 to project it as a movement powered from the ground up. But on Wednesday, the castle that Mamata built for over two decades seemed vulnearable and perhaps facing its greatest crisis.In an unprecedented revolt, that has drawn parallels from when Shiv Sena broke in 2022, 58 rebel TMC MLAs led by expelled leader Ritabrata Banerjee claimed control of the Trinamool Congress legislature party and alleged that they have secured recognition from assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose. The rebellion comes a month after election results were declared in the West Bengal. Then-CM Mamata had claimed that her party would secure 226 seats (they won 80). While the dissidents continue to acknowledge Mamata Banerjee as their leader, they have openly rejected the authority of her nephew in the functioning of the legislature party. As the crisis unfolded, the party dissolved all its committees across West Bengal, senior leader Firhad Hakim secured approval to resign as Kolkata Mayor, and the Enforcement Directorate summoned Abhishek Banerjee in the teachers’ recruitment scam probe. Together, these developments show that TMC is battling challenges on multiple fronts and facing perhaps the most turbulent moment in its history.Here are the latest developments: Rebels claim majorityThe Trinamool Congress plunged into its deepest crisis since its formation on Wednesday, with a dramatic rebellion by a majority of its legislators threatening to split the party from within. Expelled TMC leader Ritabrata Banerjee claimed that 58 MLAs had backed him as the new leader of the opposition and that Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose had accepted the dissident camp’s claim.The dissident camp, submitted letters of support from 58 MLAs before the Speaker, comfortably crossing the two-thirds mark required under anti-defection provisions.”Our claim has been accepted by the Speaker,” Ritabrata Banerjee told reporters after meeting the Speaker. Claiming legitimacy through numbers, he said: “The TMC legislative party is a team of 58 MLAs who won on the TMC symbol. We are the real TMC now in the Assembly.”The Speaker’s acceptance effectively formalised the first split in the TMC’s 28-year history.Rebel’s unveil leadership team unveiledFollowing recognition of the rebel bloc, the dissidents announced a new leadership structure. Ritabrata Banerjee was named leader of the opposition, while Akhruzzaman was appointed chief whip.Senior legislators Javed Ahmed Khan, Sandipan Saha, Sabina Yasmin and Shiuli Saha were designated deputy leaders. Several veteran lawmakers, including Samar Mukhopadhyay, Arup Roy, Rathin Ghosh, Javed Khan and Prasun Banerjee, were also reported to have joined the rebellion.Mamata accepted, Abhishek rejectedDespite challenging the existing leadership structure, the rebels stopped short of directly confronting Mamata Banerjee.”Abhishek Banerjee will have absolutely no role in it. Neither our legislative party nor the party organisation has any connection whatsoever with him. Nor does the public have any connection with him. The people of Bengal have absolutely no connection with him. If there were a connection, he wouldn’t have remained in hiding for 26 days; he would have stepped out. He was beaten just as thieves are beaten,” Ritabrata said.”We would request Mamata Banerjee to play the role of chief adviser to the legislative party,” he said.TMC dissolves all committeesAs the crisis escalated, the party leadership announced a sweeping organisational overhaul.”After careful consideration, it has been decided that all committees of the All India Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, as well as all its frontal organisations, shall stand dissolved with immediate effect,” the party said in a statement.Political observers viewed the move as an acknowledgement that the dispute had evolved beyond routine factionalism into a battle for control of the party itself.The rebellion traces its roots to the controversy surrounding the selection of the Leader of the Opposition after the elections. Firhad Hakim steps down as Kolkata MayorIn another setback for the TMC, senior leader Firhad Hakim secured Mamata Banerjee’s approval to resign as Kolkata Mayor.”At that time, he was asked not to resign. However, he again requested Mamata Banerjee today to allow him to step down, following which she agreed,” TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh told reporters.Hakim had earlier cited difficulties in functioning after the BJP came to power in West Bengal. His resignation comes amid uncertainty within the party and follows a series of resignations by councillors in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.One of the TMC’s most prominent minority faces, Hakim has served as Kolkata Mayor since 2018 and remains a key figure in the party.ED summons Abhishek BanerjeeEnforcement Directorate also summoned TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee in connection with the primary teachers’ recruitment scam.Agency officials served a notice directing him to appear on June 15. The summons is linked to an ongoing money-laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in teacher recruitment and suspected financial misconduct.The ED has already attached and seized properties worth Rs 154 crore in the case. Earlier this year, assets worth around Rs 57.78 crore were attached in connection with the wider school recruitment scam. The probe gained national attention after the 2022 arrest of former education minister Partha Chatterjee, following the recovery of cash and valuables linked to the alleged jobs-for-cash racket.(With inputs from agencies)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 MediaVideosFirhad Hakim Resigns As Kolkata Mayor, TMC Says Mamata Banerjee ‘Permitted’ HimExpelled TMC Leader Ritabrata Banerjee Appointed LoP, Urges Mamata To Be Rebels’ ‘Chief Advisor”Cease Such Attacks’: India Condemns Kuwait Airport Attack That Killed Indian CitizenHow A Class 12 Student Traced The CBSE-Coempt Tender Trail And Raised Tough QuestionsMamata’s TMC Orders Organisational Reset Amid Growing MLA Revolt Buzz | WatchThe US Just Threatened India With New Tariffs Mid-Negotiation. Here’s The Full Story21 Dead, 47 Rescued After Massive Fire Engulfs Building In Delhi’s Malviya NagarModi Cabinet Approves ATF Price Stabilisation Fund, Unveils Scheme To Reduce Delhi Air PollutionWhy The 58-MLA Rebel Claim Could Become A Major Test For Mamata Banerjee?Delhi Malviya Nagar Restaurant Fire: 21 Dead, 47 Rescued in Massive Blaze | Watch123Photostories10 rare snakes found in the Amazon rainforest and what travellers should knowExpert says these 5 toddler behaviours may feel frustrating to parents, but they are completely normalKangana Ranaut skips fast fashion, embraces handloom royalty in Gaurang Shah’s majestic Kanjeevaram sareeBenefits of Tulsi Mala according to hindu traditions8 metro corridors driving residential growth and transforming India’s urban housing landscapeGreen anacondas can do THIS? 10 facts that may surprise youKatrina Kaif to Kareena Kapoor Khan: Bollywood actresses who became mothers after 40 and broke stereotypesLalit Modi’s crores-worth London mansion is a 7,000 sq ft cricketing den with signed jerseys, lavish interiors and a private liftUttarakhand’s Valley of Flowers is now open for 2026: Everything travellers need to know before visitingLove vs ego: 7 powerful differences that can make or break your relationship123Hot PicksDelhi Restaurant FireRitabrata BanerjeeDonald TrumpAbhishek BanerjeeJay Silva Cause of DeathWI vs SLMaria SharapovaPat CumminsRitabrata BanerjeeTop TrendingDelhi Malviya Nagar Restaurant FireBengaluru MurderK AnnamalaiPatrik LaineMaja chwalinskaDK ShivakumarKarnataka Family MurderSouth Delhi Building CollapseMamata BanerjeeAbhishek Banerjee India’s economy shows resilience amid geopolitical uncertainty, says RBI deputy governor Yash’s heartwarming gesture, accident on SJ Suryah’s ‘Killer’ set, and Khushbu inviting Vijay: Top 5 South stories of the day | Tamil Movie News ‘In touch with embassies’: Jaishankar condoles Delhi hotel fire deaths, says MEA assisting foreign victims ‘It’s not nice’: Donald Trump says US has ‘other way’ to deal with Iran ‘Players like Jofra might not play for England if … ‘: Captain Ben Stokes reacts to criticism of Archer’s IPL stint Grid stability, large-scale integration of renewable energy discussed in Parl panel meet ‘So proud of you pondatti’: ‘Karuppu’ star Suriya pens emotional note for Jyotika’s powerhouse performance in ‘System’ Head first into Claude: Anthropic bets big on India Why BJP and JD(S) will keep close watch on DK Shivakumar government NEW DELHI: The DK Shivakumar era has started in Karnataka. The Congress’s biggest troubleshooter is finally in the saddle as the chief minister of his state – a dream he nurtured and worked for over the years. Shivakumar took oath of office in the name of revered seer “Gangadhar Ajja”, while holding a copy of the Constitution in his hands. His elevation comes after a long wait, but has the potential to change the political dynamics in the state. The Karnataka Congress chief had first staked claim to the top post in 2023 after leading the party to a record victory over the BJP in the assembly elections. However, the Congress high command then sided with Siddaramaiah’s experience and asked Shivakumar to wait for his turn under a rotational power-sharing agreement.Karnataka assembly 2023 resultsThe fact that the Congress high command managed to ensure a smooth transition of power despite the hiccups, has put the grand-old-party in a pole position ahead of the 2028 assembly elections in the state. The Congress would hope that this leadership change will help the party counter anti-incumbency, if any, against the Siddaramaiah government.But this leadership change is not just about countering anti-incumbency. It is also about how the change in caste equations with this leadership swap may impact the success of political parties in the state.Little wonder, the BJP and the JD(S), will be closely watching the 64-year-old Vokkaliga Congress strongman in action as the chief minister. The Congress move forces both the parties, who occupy the opposition space in the state, to go back to their drawing boards and rework their strategies and balance the caste factor ahead of the 2028 assembly elections.Why Shivakumar’s rise could give BJP a headacheFor the BJP, Shivakumar’s elevation potentially disrupts a strategy the party has spent years building in Karnataka.The state’s politics has long revolved around two influential communities – the Lingayats and the Vokkaligas. Put simply, they hold the keys to power. Members of these two groups have occupied the chief minister’s office far more often than any other community in Karnataka’s history, making them central to every party’s electoral calculations.While the BJP’s strength has traditionally come from the Lingayat belt, particularly under BS Yediyurappa, its expansion plans depended on making deeper inroads into the Vokkaliga-dominated Old Mysuru region.That was essentially one of the reasons behind the BJP’s alliance with the JD(S). The BJP strategy was clear: It would bring its Lingayat support base, while the JD(S), led by HD Deve Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy, would help deliver Vokkaliga votes. Together, the alliance hoped to create a coalition capable of challenging the Congress across southern Karnataka. But the elevation of Shivakumar, who is among the most influential Vokkaliga leaders in the state, as the chief minister complicates that calculation.Shivakumar gives the Congress something its rivals would have preferred it did not have, a powerful Vokkaliga face not just a part of the party but actually occupying the state’s top job. His elevation comes at a time when the BJP has been carefully balancing its own caste equations. The party appointed R Ashoka, a Vokkaliga leader, as leader of the opposition while handing the state unit presidency to BY Vijayendra, son of Lingayat strongman BS Yediyurappa. The message was clear: a Lingayat would lead the organisation and a Vokkaliga would lead the fight against the government.With Shivakumar now in the chief minister’s chair, that balancing act may have to change.The concern within sections of the BJP is that a Vokkaliga chief minister could make it harder for the NDA to consolidate support in southern Karnataka. There is also the possibility that the Congress may seek to expand its social coalition further by reaching out to sections of backward classes and dalits who may have been disappointed by Siddaramaiah’s exit.For a BJP that was hoping to broaden its footprint beyond its traditional strongholds, Shivakumar’s rise presents a fresh challenge.How JD(S) will now be forced to defend its core support baseAnd while the BJP has a caste balance in place, its ally the Janata Dal (Secular), led by former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and his son HD Kumaraswamy, faces a real challenge.The party has treated the Vokkaliga-dominated Old Mysuru region as its impregnable fortress. The community, which forms one of the most powerful agrarian and socio-political blocs in Karnataka, has traditionally rallied behind the Deve Gowda clan, viewing them as the ultimate guardians of Vokkaliga pride.However, Shivakumar being the chief minister directly threatens this monopoly because he is no longer just a political challenger, but now wields authority as chief minister to woo the community with his administrative decisions. The JD(S) now needs to rework strategy to defend its core voter base from a formidable, sitting Vokkaliga CM who has the state machinery, the necessary resources, and a point to prove. This becomes all the more challenging given the fact that the JD(S) has been on a downward trajectory for some time.In the 2023 assembly elections, the party won just 19 seats and secured around 13% of the vote share, a sharp contrast to the Congress, which swept to power with 135 seats. Significantly, Congress made major gains in several parts of the Old Mysuru region, which has been a JD(S) stronghold for years.The rivalry between Shivakumar and Kumaraswamy has also intensified over the years. The two leaders have repeatedly traded barbs, with Kumaraswamy accusing the Congress of attempting to politically weaken the JD(S), while Shivakumar dismissing claims that the regional party remains indispensable in Karnataka politics.The JD(S), which has in the past shared power with the Congress, now has a task at hand. It needs to strategise to ensure that chief minister DK Shivakumar does not push the party into the fringes of state politics. DK Shivakumar, on the other hand, has to prove that his governance skills are as good as his crisis management skills. The diehard Congressman, who has spent years building his image as an efficient organiser capable of delivering victories and protecting the party during its most difficult moments, now has to show that he can also lead the party with success.About the AuthorPriyanka MukherjeePriyanka Mukherjee is an Assistant News Editor at The Times of India, where deadlines rarely slow down. Often juggling breaking news, long-form explainers and the everyday chaos of the newsroom, she is usually managing stress, chasing clarity and trying to log off on time (rarely successful). She also cares deeply about stories around women’s rights and social change, while two very opinionated dogs make sure she never truly switches off.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosFirhad Hakim Resigns As Kolkata Mayor, TMC Says Mamata Banerjee ‘Permitted’ HimExpelled TMC Leader Ritabrata Banerjee Appointed LoP, Urges Mamata To Be Rebels’ ‘Chief Advisor”Cease Such Attacks’: India Condemns Kuwait Airport Attack That Killed Indian CitizenHow A Class 12 Student Traced The CBSE-Coempt Tender Trail And Raised Tough QuestionsMamata’s TMC Orders Organisational Reset Amid Growing MLA Revolt Buzz | WatchThe US Just Threatened India With New Tariffs Mid-Negotiation. Here’s The Full Story21 Dead, 47 Rescued After Massive Fire Engulfs Building In Delhi’s Malviya NagarModi Cabinet Approves ATF Price Stabilisation Fund, Unveils Scheme To Reduce Delhi Air PollutionWhy The 58-MLA Rebel Claim Could Become A Major Test For Mamata Banerjee?Delhi Malviya Nagar Restaurant Fire: 21 Dead, 47 Rescued in Massive Blaze | Watch123PhotostoriesKangana Ranaut skips fast fashion, embraces handloom royalty in Gaurang Shah’s majestic Kanjeevaram sareeBenefits of Tulsi Mala according to hindu traditions8 metro corridors driving residential growth and transforming India’s urban housing landscapeGreen anacondas can do THIS? 10 facts that may surprise youKatrina Kaif to Kareena Kapoor Khan: Bollywood actresses who became mothers after 40 and broke stereotypesLalit Modi’s crores-worth London mansion is a 7,000 sq ft cricketing den with signed jerseys, lavish interiors and a private liftUttarakhand’s Valley of Flowers is now open for 2026: Everything travellers need to know before visitingLove vs ego: 7 powerful differences that can make or break your relationship7 royal palaces in India that are now luxury hotelsSummer travel making you feel sick? 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How lenders evaluate new-to-credit customers – explained Cassie Ventura leaves US following a legal showdown with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, with no intention to return | Quote of the day for kids by Wayne Gretzky: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t…” S-400 Air Defence System: India’s ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ gets more powerful: Fourth S-400 squadron arrives from Russia – report Three British Navy personnel killed in helicopter crash during training exercise in Devon, MOD confirms | World News Sri Lanka 0/0 in 0.3 Overs | WI vs SL Live Score, 1st ODI: West Indies opt to bowl as Sri Lanka bat first in ODI series opener at Sabina Park ‘He is fun loving person’: Abhimanyu Singh looks back on his time with Ranveer Singh in ‘Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela’ Hero launches Splendor+, HF Deluxe flex-fuel bikes: Price, changes explained Major upset! World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka crashes out of French Open 2026 after losing to Diana Shnaider in quarterfinals ‘We would not fly in this visibility’: Indian-origin pilot Dave Fiji warned before fatal helicopter crash in Georgia, says father US stock markets today (June 3, 2026): Oil nears $100 amid Iran tensions, Wall Street stays close to record highs 5 Reasons to watch Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor starrer ‘Peddi’ Licensed for 6 rooms, running 25: Delhi’s Malviya Nagar hotel fire kills 21, including 17 foreigners Ritabrata Banerjee (File photo) In a major escalation of the crisis within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), expelled party leader Ritabrata Banerjee on Wednesday claimed that Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose had recognised him as the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly and accepted the rebel camp’s claim to legislature party status.Addressing a press conference, Banerjee said the rebel faction represented the “real and main opposition” in the Assembly and announced a new leadership structure. He named Javed Khan, Sandipan Saha, Sabina Yasmin and Shiuli Saha as deputy leaders of the legislature party.The development comes after 58 rebel MLAs submitted letters of support to the Speaker, comfortably crossing the two-thirds threshold required under the anti-defection law for a breakaway faction to avoid disqualification. The group has proposed Banerjee as legislature party leader and Akhruzzaman as chief whip.While openly challenging the authority of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, the rebels stopped short of directly confronting ex-chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Banerjee said he wanted Mamata Banerjee to serve as the chief adviser of the legislature party, while the rebel camp continued to recognise her as party chairperson.The revolt, triggered after the TMC’s defeat in the recent Assembly elections, is widely viewed as the biggest internal challenge faced by the party since its formation. In response, the TMC has dissolved all organisational committees across West Bengal and announced a review of its party structure.Who is Ritabrata Banerjee, the face of the TMC rebellion?Ritabrata Banerjee’s emergence as the leader of the rebel camp marks another dramatic turn in a political career defined by sharp ideological shifts and repeated clashes with party establishments.The 46-year-old first rose to prominence as general secretary of the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and was regarded as one of the Left’s most promising young leaders. In 2014, he entered the Rajya Sabha with CPI(M) support and was considered close to senior leaders including Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Sitaram Yechury.However, allegations of indiscipline and factionalism led to his suspension and eventual expulsion from the CPI(M) in 2017, bringing an abrupt end to what many in the party had seen as a promising political career.After a brief period on the political sidelines, Banerjee moved closer to the TMC and formally joined the party in 2020 following the completion of his Rajya Sabha term. Within the party, he quickly regained influence, heading the Indian National Trinamool Trade Union Congress (INTTUC), securing another Rajya Sabha berth in 2024 and later winning election to the Assembly.His rise within the TMC made his role in the current revolt particularly striking. Once viewed as part of the party’s inner circle, Banerjee is now leading the biggest internal challenge faced by the party since its formation, with the rebel camp claiming the support of 58 MLAs and control of the legislature party.”This is perhaps the only major Bengal politician who has been expelled by both the CPI(M) and the TMC,” quipped a veteran political observer, as quoted by PTI.The developments have drawn comparisons with Maharashtra’s 2022 political upheaval led by Eknath Shinde, where legislative strength became the basis for a challenge to the party leadership. 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 MediaVideosThe US Just Threatened India With New Tariffs Mid-Negotiation. 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