The Last Loyalists: As TMC Unravels, Mamata’s Old Guard Refuses to Walk Away
As the Trinamool Congress (TMC) suffered a crushing defeat in West Bengal’s Assembly elections, ending 15 years in power, only 58 of its 80 MLAs remained loyal to leader Mamata Banerjee during a protest in Kolkata. Among the few steadfast supporters were longtime allies like Madan Mitra, who vowed never to abandon her despite past setbacks, and Dola Sen, a leftist trade unionist appointed as a joint secretary to maintain party balance amid internal turmoil.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) faced a historic collapse in West Bengal’s Assembly elections, losing power after 15 years under Mamata Banerjee. During a sit-in protest in Kolkata on 2 June, only 58 of its 80 elected MLAs stood by her, while the rest defected, triggering a legislative split and rumors of broader party divisions. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was suspected of influencing the defections, but amid the chaos, a small group of loyalists refused to abandon Banerjee. Madan Mitra, known as *Madan Da*, has been a lifelong ally of Banerjee’s, dating back to the 1993 police firing during her student movement. Despite being sidelined, arrested in the Saradha scam, and excluded from key rallies, he declared his unwavering support, saying he would ‘give blood from [his] heart’ but never leave her side. His loyalty contrasts with the defections of others, including former protégé Suvendu Adhikari, who now leads the opposition. Dola Sen, a leftist trade unionist who joined TMC during the Singur and Nandigram protests, was appointed a joint secretary by Banerjee to stabilize the party. Her grassroots background and trust in Banerjee’s fight against land grabs made her a key figure. On 2 June, she stood firm at the protest, reflecting the rare bond between Banerjee and her old guard. The defections exposed deep fractures in the TMC, but the loyalists—like Mitra and Sen—represented a different kind of politics: one rooted in personal loyalty and shared struggles. Their presence highlighted the human side of political turmoil, where history and friendship still matter amid power shifts. Banerjee’s reliance on them underscored their role in preserving the party’s identity amid defeat.
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