A major political crisis is unfolding inside the All India Trinamool Congress after more than 100 councillors resigned from municipal bodies across West Bengal following the party’s defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections. The wave of resignations has exposed growing unrest within the party’s local structure and raised serious questions over the stability of the TMC’s urban political network, which had remained powerful for years.

The biggest setback came from Bhatpara Municipality, where 30 out of 35 councillors resigned on Friday. Chairperson Reba Raha was also among those who stepped down. A similar situation emerged in Halisahar Municipality, where 16 of the 23 councillors resigned. In Kanchrapara Municipality, 14 councillors quit their positions.

Several other civic bodies also witnessed mass resignations. Garulia Municipality saw 18 councillors step down, while North Barrackpore Municipality recorded 15 resignations. In Contai Municipality, 14 councillors resigned. Diamond Harbour Municipality also faced a major blow after eight councillors resigned from the 16-member civic body.

Many councillors publicly claimed that they resigned due to personal or organisational reasons. However, several leaders within the TMC privately admitted that fear of police action and corruption investigations was spreading rapidly among municipal leaders. The fear has increased after multiple arrests of councillors and civic leaders linked to the party in recent weeks.

On May 20, police arrested Ranjan Poddar, councillor of Ward 34 in Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation and chairman of Borough 5. He was accused of regularly collecting money from bus and auto operators in the Salt Lake and Karunamoyee areas. A few days earlier, another Bidhannagar councillor, Samrat Barua, was arrested in a separate extortion case. In Cooch Behar, TMC councillor Ujjal Tar was arrested over allegations related to threats and intimidation during the Assembly election campaign.

The resignations in Diamond Harbour triggered a major political debate as the region has long been seen as a stronghold of Abhishek Banerjee, the party’s national general secretary. The crisis in the municipality came soon after the BJP’s massive victory in the Falta Assembly repoll.

BJP candidate Debangshu Panda secured more than 71 per cent of the vote share in the repoll. TMC candidate Jahangir Khan slipped to fourth place and even lost his deposit. The result further intensified discussions about weakening support for the TMC in areas that were once considered politically secure.

The eight councillors who resigned from Diamond Harbour Municipality accused the party leadership of not allowing them to function independently. Councillor Tamal Halder strongly criticised the much-discussed “Diamond Harbour Model”.

“For so long, a balloon was inflated in the name of the Diamond Harbour model. Now the balloon has burst," Halder said.

He further alleged that police officers controlled the system and elected representatives had very little freedom in decision-making. Several councillors also accused sections of the police of being involved in alleged corruption connected to illegal pond filling, unauthorised construction and extortion activities in the region.

Signs of internal tension have also emerged inside the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, which has long been considered one of the strongest political centres of the TMC. TMC councillor Debalina Biswas resigned as chairperson of Borough No. 9, although she continued as councillor of Ward 74. Her resignation came shortly after the KMC issued notices to 17 properties allegedly linked to Abhishek Banerjee and his family.

The situation inside the KMC became more controversial when the monthly civic session could not be conducted inside the main chamber because officials allegedly did not open the room. TMC councillors were eventually forced to hold the proceedings from the recreation room within the KMC headquarters. Mayor Firhad Hakim later described the incident as “a black day for the municipality".

Political observers believe the BJP is following a two-sided strategy in Bengal after its electoral success. On one side, the BJP government is presenting its actions as an administrative clean-up of municipalities allegedly affected by corruption and syndicate politics. On the other side, the arrests and investigations appear to be putting pressure on the local civic network that had helped the TMC maintain its political influence for years.

Experts say municipalities in Bengal have functioned as more than civic institutions. They have also acted as political systems that controlled contracts, local influence and voter mobilisation. With a large number of councillors resigning, the TMC is gradually losing its hold at the grassroots level.

The growing instability has forced former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to personally meet councillors from municipalities including, Bidhannagar, Dum Dum and Baranagar. During the meetings, Banerjee reportedly warned party leaders against leaving the organisation after suffering an electoral defeat.

“We do not need workers who stay only when the party wins and leave after a defeat," she reportedly told councillors.

The developments have added to the political uncertainty in West Bengal and highlighted the serious organisational challenges currently facing the TMC after its loss in the Assembly elections.