The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is facing a severe internal crisis following allegations of forged signatures on official documents submitted to the West Bengal Assembly.
The controversy, dubbed 'Signgate', has led to a CID investigation, the expulsion of two TMC MLAs, and scrutiny of senior party leaders.
The row centers on documents submitted regarding the appointment of the Leader of the Opposition and the party's chief whip after the 2026 Assembly elections.
Allegations emerged that signatures of several TMC legislators appearing on the documents were either forged or placed without their proper consent.
The controversy gained momentum after complaints were raised by TMC MLAs Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, prompting a formal investigation by the West Bengal Crime Investigation Department (CID).
The Assembly secretary lodged an FIR, and investigators began collecting statements and specimen signatures from legislators whose names appeared on the disputed documents.
The issue is particularly damaging as it has exposed signs of internal dissent within a party tightly controlled by its leadership.
The scandal escalated when TMC expelled MLAs Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, accusing them of anti-party activities.
Senior TMC leader and national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee was also summoned by the CID in connection with the investigation.
The controversy has moved beyond a simple dispute over paperwork and has become a test of party discipline and leadership authority.
The forged-signature controversy has erupted barely weeks after TMC suffered a major defeat in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, ending the party's 15-year rule in the state.
The CID investigation is continuing, with statements being collected from legislators and senior leaders.
The probe will seek to determine whether any signatures were forged, who may have been responsible, and whether criminal wrongdoing occurred in the preparation of Assembly documents.
