A day after 58 Trinamool Congress lawmakers disowned party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, the Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel camp showed signs of unease.
Several legislators insisted that former Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee remain the supreme leader, warning they may reconsider their place in the bloc if she's reduced to a mere adviser.
The concerns emerged following a meeting of the rebel legislature bloc led by Ritabrata Banerjee, who was recently recognised as the Leader of Opposition.
The Trinamool Congress is grappling with a rebellion in its legislative ranks after losing power in West Bengal.
Debate over Mamata's position was sparked by a proposal suggesting she serve as the 'chief adviser' to the reconstituted legislature party.
However, some rebel legislators felt this description didn't adequately reflect her standing within the party.
Rebel MLA Gulshan Mullick stated, 'We were told the party would continue under Mamata Banerjee's leadership. She is not merely an adviser. We want the party to function under her leadership.'
Mullick added that his continued association with the bloc could depend on how the issue is resolved.
The dissident MLAs have attempted to draw a distinction between Mamata Banerjee and her nephew, former party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
Their position has been that the dispute concerns Abhishek's influence over the functioning of the legislature party, not the leadership of the TMC founder.
The developments come amid continuing turbulence within the TMC following its electoral defeat to the BJP and the unprecedented split in its legislature wing.
