Is Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool camp gearing up for a reunion? Rebel MLAs’ absence raises questions

Political intrigue is building within West Bengal’s Trinamool Congress, with reports of shifting loyalties among several legislators fuelling speculation that some leaders who drifted away from party chief Mamata Banerjee’s camp may be seeking a return.

The developments have drawn attention after several legislators missed an administrative meeting in Raiganj attended by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

Meanwhile, Trinamool MLA Minhaj Afreen Azad has publicly reaffirmed his allegiance to Mamata, adding another twist to the political developments.

Hamidur Rahaman, the MLA from Chopra, Ghulam Rabbani of Goalpokhar and Minhaj Afreen Azad of Chakulia were among those who did not attend the meeting.

However, their absence alone does not establish a change in political allegiance, and individual legislators cited different reasons.

‘I have been with Didi from the beginning’

Minhaj Afreen Azad sought to put his political position beyond doubt, declaring that he had supported Mamata Banerjee from the beginning.

Speaking at the West Bengal Assembly, Azad said he had informed the District Magistrate and the Sub-Divisional Officer that he was in Kolkata.

He also addressed questions about his decision to sign a document supporting the Leader of the Opposition.

‘I have been with Didi from the very beginning,’ he said, adding that he had participated in rallies against attacks on Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

Azad maintained that signing the document did not mean he had abandoned his support for Mamata. He also claimed to have submitted an affidavit in her support.

His remarks have fuelled speculation that leaders from rival political groupings are trying to rebuild ties with the Trinamool leadership.

Another MLA cites lack of official invitation

Itahar MLA Mosharaf Hossain, who was also absent from the Raiganj meeting, said he had not received an official invitation.

‘We were not officially invited, which is why I could not attend today,’ Hossain said, adding that he had attended previous administrative meetings when invited.

He questioned why he hadn't been called this time, noting that the administration had earlier said it would invite opposition representatives.

His explanation offers a different account of the absence, underlining why the legislators’ individual circumstances should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of political realignment.

Is Trinamool preparing for a political reconciliation?

According to sources cited in the original report, the Trinamool leadership in Kalighat is assessing the positions of leaders who may be reconsidering their political alignments.

The exercise involves identifying those the leadership could welcome back and those with whom it may continue to keep its distance.

Kashem Siddiqui, Tausifur Rahaman and Abdul Matin have reportedly returned to the Trinamool fold in Kalighat. Hamidur Rahaman, Kajal Sheikh and Minhajul Afreen Azad are among the leaders whose changing positions have attracted attention.

The developments have raised questions about whether Mamata Banerjee’s party could reconcile more broadly with leaders who had moved away from its camp.

However, the reported discussions do not establish that all the leaders named have formally returned to the party or made any fresh organisational commitments.

For now, the central question remains whether the apparent shifts in political positioning will translate into a formal rapprochement with Mamata Banerjee’s camp, or whether the divisions within Trinamool will persist.