Kolkata, July 16, 2026 – Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee issued a forceful reminder that she will "rebuild the party" just as she did in 2004, amid a fresh wave of defections that has shaken the party’s core. The statement came hours after senior leader Madan Mitra defected to the rebel TMC camp and publicly targeted the party’s All‑India General Secretary, Abhishek Banerjee.

Recalling the 2004 Comeback

In 2004, the TMC was reduced to a single MP in the Lok Sabha. Mamata’s grassroots mobilisation, youth outreach, and strategic alliances turned the party into a dominant force in West Bengal by 2011. She now asserts, “I was alone then, I rebuilt the party, and I can do it again. I am not dying; I will live to fight on.” This historical reference is meant to reassure party cadres that the current crisis is surmountable.

Accusations Against the BJP

Banerjee claimed that the rebel TMC faction is being “controlled by the BJP.” She warned that leaders who have “sat on the BJP’s lap” carry “a lot of baggage,” and those joining the rival camp are “protecting luggage and baggage.” According to her, the ruling party is leveraging investigative agencies and police to coerce defections, a charge that echoes longstanding concerns about the misuse of state machinery for political ends.

Parliamentary Strength and Fear Factor

Despite the exodus, Mamata highlighted that the TMC still retains 18 MPs across the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. She contended that many who have switched sides did so out of fear of police action, not ideological shift.

Martyrs’ Day Rally – A Strategic Gathering

The chief minister called on party workers to assemble for the July 21 Martyrs’ Day rally near the Birla Planetarium, a venue approved by the Calcutta High Court after the traditional Esplanade site was denied. “Do not be misled into going to Mayo Road, where the rebel TMC will hold a parallel programme. If police push you there, return to our venue,” she warned, emphasizing unity and discipline.

Solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk

Banerjee also mentioned her conversation with activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on a hunger strike in New Delhi demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan** over the NEET paper leak. She expressed admiration for his 26‑day strike against forced land acquisition in Singur, linking his cause to broader social justice themes.

Through these moves, Mamata Banerjee is attempting to consolidate her base, counteract BJP‑linked defections, and frame the upcoming rally as a decisive moment for the party’s future.