West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has issued a blunt warning to leaders eyeing an exit from the party. Reacting to the resignation of Rajya Sabha MP and popular Tollywood actress Koel Mallick, Banerjee said that anyone who wants to leave should pack up and go before July 21. She revealed that Mallick had already informed her about the resignation through an email.
A jab at the BJP, ED and CBI
In her remarks, Banerjee took aim at the BJP as well as the central investigating agencies, the ED and the CBI. She said that leaders who wish to quit the party under pressure from these agencies are free to do so. At the same time, she issued a stern message to her party workers, urging them not to bring disrepute to the party she has built.
A wave of exits after the 2026 assembly poll defeat
The Trinamool Congress has been battling an exodus of leaders since its defeat in the 2026 assembly elections. Several of its Rajya Sabha MPs have already stepped down, and most of them joined the BJP after quitting the party. Adding to the turmoil, a section of newly elected TMC MLAs has openly rebelled against the leadership. Led by Ritabrata Banerjee, these dissident legislators have picked their own separate leader and levelled several allegations against Abhishek Banerjee.
Mamata Banerjee stands firmly behind Abhishek Banerjee
Despite widespread resentment against Abhishek Banerjee within sections of the party, Mamata Banerjee openly backed him, saying he is fighting like a lion. She reminded her party that she had built the organisation from scratch in 2006 and could do so again in 2026 if required. She added that those who stand by her are as precious as gold to her. Banerjee also disclosed that Koel Mallick had emailed her saying all members of her family had been served summons, a detail that made it clear to her that Mallick was preparing to leave the party. It was after this that she had already stripped Mallick of all her party posts.
Koel Mallick meets Bhupendra Yadav soon after quitting
Koel Mallick, also known as Rukmini Mallick, met union minister Bhupendra Yadav immediately after resigning from her Rajya Sabha seat. The meeting has fuelled speculation in political circles that she could soon join the BJP. Mallick had been elected to the Rajya Sabha on behalf of the Trinamool Congress on March 16 and took oath as a member on April 6, 2026. She tendered her resignation on July 16. Notably, she did not attend a single session of the Rajya Sabha during her brief tenure.
