‘Trust & confidence were no longer there’: Chandrima Bhattacharya on quitting TMC; party calls move ‘pre-planned’ NEW DELHI: Former West Bengal state president Chandrima Bhattacharya on Saturday said that she decided to resign from all posts in the Trinamool Congress after losing the confidence and trust of party chief Mamata Banerjee, while rejecting questions over her loyalty to the party.Speaking to reporters after submitting her resignation, Bhattacharya said, “The confidence that Mamata ji had in me seemed to have weakened. When trust and confidence were no longer there, it became difficult to continue working as a party worker… I respect Kunal Ghosh, but who is he to question my loyalty, and on what basis? Mamata Banerjee knows whether I am loyal or not.”Her remarks came hours after the Mamata Banerjee-led faction accused her resignation of being a ‘pre-planned’ move and alleged that she had aligned herself with the rival faction led by expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee amid the Trinamool Congress’ deepening internal crisis.Mamata Banerjee-led faction suffered another setback, with Bhattacharya stepping down from her position barely a month after she was appointed West Bengal state president following the party’s defeat in the 2026 assembly elections.Speaking to reporters, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said, “Chandrima Bhattacharya was our didi. When she was in office, they (the rebel faction) came. If she had remained there for some more time as president, locks would not have been put. But she left. When Mamata Banerjee was CM, Chandrima Bhattacharya held the highest number of ministerial portfolios. If she is upset, there could have been communication, but joining the opposition camp suggests that it was pre-planned.””Anyone can make any decision but when Mamata Banerjee was the CM, she (Chandrima Bhattacharya) had the most important ministry (department). Now she is showing arrogance,” he said.Bhattacharya also resigned from all other posts she held in the party. She withdrew as the authorised signatory for the Trinamool Congress and its associated organisations’ bank accounts and gave up her role as Mamata Banerjee’s authorised representative before the Election Commission.Bhattacharya was appointed West Bengal state president on June 3, replacing senior leader Subrata Bakshi during the party’s national working committee meeting at Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence.In her resignation letter addressed to the TMC chief, Bhattacharya thanked Mamata for her trust and said she continued to hold her in the highest regard.”At the end I would like to state that I have the highest regards for you and will remain ever respectful to you,” she wrote.Later, Bhattacharya told reporters that her decision was prompted by a phone call from Mamata Banerjee, who allegedly blamed her for allowing the Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel faction to take control of Trinamool Bhavan, the party’s operational headquarters in Kolkata.”I was deeply hurt when she (Mamata Banerjee) called me to say that I have handed over the party office to them (the rebels), although I do not know how I did that. It is evident that my loyalty and trustworthiness were shaken from their roots. This had never happened in the past. Once those fundamental binding forces are gone, there is no reason for me to stay in the party or return to it,” Bhattacharya said.Asked whether she planned to formally join the rebel camp, she replied, “There’s more to life than this. I am yet to decide the course I will chart.”However, shortly after speaking to the media, Bhattacharya was seen attending a meeting with leaders of the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction at the West Bengal assembly, where she was welcomed by deputy leader of opposition Sandipan Saha.The development comes after the rebel faction took control of Trinamool Bhavan, held a meeting at the premises and changed the locks, declaring that the office would now function as its organisational headquarters.The organisational battle intensified after the rebel camp approached the Election Commission seeking recognition as the ‘real’ Trinamool Congress and staking claim to the party’s name and election symbol.The split has widened since the TMC’s defeat in the 2026 assembly elections. Several senior leaders, including former Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, veteran MLA Jawed Khan and senior leader Golam Rabbani, have joined the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction.The Election Commission has already asked both factions to submit documents supporting their respective claims over the party’s organisational structure, authorised signatories and control of the party by July 6, as the battle for the Trinamool Congress continues to escalate.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 MediaVideosFresh Blow To Mamata Camp As Bengal Chief Quits During Intensifying TMC Power StrugglePM Modi Dedicates India’s 1st Greenfield Integrated Refinery-Cum-Petrochemical Complex at PachpadraRam Temple Tightens Donation Security As SIT Deepens Probe Into Alleged EmbezzlementPM Narendra Modi Opens Jodhpur’s New Airport Terminal, Launches Revamped UDAN SchemeLS Speaker Om Birla To Decide TMC And Sena Merger Claims Ahead Of Crucial Monsoon SessionBihar Restores Z-Category Security To Lalu Yadav And Rabri Devi Weeks After DowngradePunjab Congress Rift Deepens As Channi Camp Seeks Top Post, Randhawa-Shah Meeting Sparks BuzzDigvijaya Singh To Move Ayodhya Court Over Alleged Ram Mandir Donation Row, Targets TrustIndia’s Climate Emergency_ Shah Steps In As India Records Driest Spells On Record | WatchBengal Eyes New Industrial Era As CM Adhikari Targets FDI Growth And Manufacturing Expansion123PhotostoriesBetta Fish vs Guppies: Which one is better for beginners starting their first aquarium?5 natural alternatives to Finasteride that could help with hair growth’It honours the…’: CM Yogi Adityanath names this mango of UP as ‘Kakori Brand’7 cat breeds known for minimal shedding that make great indoor companionsCan a slice of bread keep cookies soft? 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NEW DELHI: Former West Bengal state president Chandrima Bhattacharya on Saturday said that she decided to resign from all posts in the Trinamool Congress after losing the confidence and trust of party chief Mamata Banerjee, while rejecting questions over her loyalty to the party.Speaking to reporters after submitting her resignation, Bhattacharya said, “The confidence that Mamata ji had in me seemed to have weakened. When trust and confidence were no longer there, it became difficult to continue working as a party worker… I respect Kunal Ghosh, but who is he to question my loyalty, and on what basis? Mamata Banerjee knows whether I am loyal or not.”Her remarks came hours after the Mamata Banerjee-led faction accused her resignation of being a ‘pre-planned’ move and alleged that she had aligned herself with the rival faction led by expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee amid the Trinamool Congress’ deepening internal crisis.Mamata Banerjee-led faction suffered another setback, with Bhattacharya stepping down from her position barely a month after she was appointed West Bengal state president following the party’s defeat in the 2026 assembly elections.Speaking to reporters, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said, “Chandrima Bhattacharya was our didi. When she was in office, they (the rebel faction) came. If she had remained there for some more time as president, locks would not have been put. But she left. When Mamata Banerjee was CM, Chandrima Bhattacharya held the highest number of ministerial portfolios. If she is upset, there could have been communication, but joining the opposition camp suggests that it was pre-planned.““Anyone can make any decision but when Mamata Banerjee was the CM, she (Chandrima Bhattacharya) had the most important ministry (department). Now she is showing arrogance,” he said.Bhattacharya also resigned from all other posts she held in the party. She withdrew as the authorised signatory for the Trinamool Congress and its associated organisations’ bank accounts and gave up her role as Mamata Banerjee’s authorised representative before the Election Commission.Bhattacharya was appointed West Bengal state president on June 3, replacing senior leader Subrata Bakshi during the party’s national working committee meeting at Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence.In her resignation letter addressed to the TMC chief, Bhattacharya thanked Mamata for her trust and said she continued to hold her in the highest regard.“At the end I would like to state that I have the highest regards for you and will remain ever respectful to you,” she wrote.Later, Bhattacharya told reporters that her decision was prompted by a phone call from Mamata Banerjee, who allegedly blamed her for allowing the Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel faction to take control of Trinamool Bhavan, the party’s operational headquarters in Kolkata.“I was deeply hurt when she (Mamata Banerjee) called me to say that I have handed over the party office to them (the rebels), although I do not know how I did that. It is evident that my loyalty and trustworthiness were shaken from their roots. This had never happened in the past. Once those fundamental binding forces are gone, there is no reason for me to stay in the party or return to it,” Bhattacharya said.Asked whether she planned to formally join the rebel camp, she replied, “There’s more to life than this. I am yet to decide the course I will chart.”However, shortly after speaking to the media, Bhattacharya was seen attending a meeting with leaders of the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction at the West Bengal assembly, where she was welcomed by deputy leader of opposition Sandipan Saha.The development comes after the rebel faction took control of Trinamool Bhavan, held a meeting at the premises and changed the locks, declaring that the office would now function as its organisational headquarters.The organisational battle intensified after the rebel camp approached the Election Commission seeking recognition as the ‘real’ Trinamool Congress and staking claim to the party’s name and election symbol.The split has widened since the TMC’s defeat in the 2026 assembly elections. Several senior leaders, including former Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, veteran MLA Jawed Khan and senior leader Golam Rabbani, have joined the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction.The Election Commission has already asked both factions to submit documents supporting their respective claims over the party’s organisational structure, authorised signatories and control of the party by July 6, as the battle for the Trinamool Congress continues to escalate.