Kolkata, June 23:The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday expelled eight senior leaders from the party, citing alleged anti-party activities amid growing internal tensions within the organisation.

The expelled leaders are Javed Ahmed Khan, Firhad Hakim, Arup Roy, Rathin Ghosh, Biplab Mitra, Sabina Yasmin, Aroop Biswas and Snehasis Chakraborty. Earlier in the day, the party had issued show-cause notices to them, accusing them of deliberately engaging in activities that were detrimental to the party's interests.

The action comes against the backdrop of an escalating organisational dispute within the TMC. A dissident faction led by West Bengal Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee recently announced the formation of a separate All India Trinamool Congress Committee and appointed Arup Roy as its chairperson. The group also constituted a 30-member National Working Committee (NWC) and reiterated its desire for former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to serve as the party's mentor.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Ritabrata Banerjee stated that Arup Roy had been unanimously elected Chairperson of the All India Trinamool Congress during a special session attended by party delegates. He added that former minister Aroop Biswas and MLA Firhad Hakim had been appointed as vice-chairpersons.

“A special session of the All India Trinamool Congress was organised today. During the meeting, delegates unanimously approved the formation of the All India Trinamool Congress Committee and the National Working Committee. Arup Roy was elected Chairperson of the party,” Banerjee said.

According to him, the newly formed 30-member committee includes Firhad Hakim, Aroop Biswas, Rathin Ghosh, Sabina Yasmin, Javed Khan, Sandipan Saha and several other leaders. Firhad Hakim, Aroop Biswas, Rathin Ghosh and Sabina Yasmin were also assigned key leadership roles as vice-presidents.

Banerjee further announced that district presidents and district committees would be formed in the coming days as part of the faction's organisational expansion.

He reiterated the group's position regarding Mamata Banerjee's future role in the party, saying, “We have consistently maintained that Didi should guide us as a mentor and advisor.”

Later, while commenting on a National Working Committee meeting chaired by Mamata Banerjee, Banerjee questioned the legitimacy of decisions taken by the rival faction, further highlighting the deepening divisions within the party.