Amid internal differences within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, Amdanga TMC MLA Mohammad Qasim Siddiqui has announced that he is distancing himself from the rebel group led by Ritabrata Banerjee and will remain with Mamata Banerjee.
Siddiqui said he is now with Mamata Banerjee and will not leave her as long as he remains active in politics.
Siddiqui claimed that he and other MLAs had been told that the group they were joining was operating under Mamata Banerjee’s guidance. Based on that understanding, he agreed to associate himself with Ritabrata Banerjee.
He later learned that the group was operating separately from Mamata Banerjee and the TMC’s top leadership. He subsequently decided to distance himself from the rebel camp.
Siddiqui said he was not aware that Ritabrata Banerjee was forming a separate political faction. According to him, he was initially told that all the MLAs were with “Didi”. He said he realised the situation when Mamata Banerjee’s role was not visible in meetings and activities and subsequently decided to remain with the original TMC camp led by her.
Siddiqui also referred to his political career and election victory. He said he had sought votes among the public in the name of Mamata Banerjee’s leadership and her work.
According to Siddiqui, voters elected him to the Assembly by placing their trust in Mamata Banerjee’s leadership. He said he would remain with her until the end of his political career.
Siddiqui’s return comes amid discussions over factional differences within the TMC in West Bengal. A rebel group had emerged under the leadership of Ritabrata Banerjee, with a large number of MLAs joining it.
Following Siddiqui’s decision, Ritabrata Banerjee responded to his allegations. He challenged Siddiqui to go to Amdanga and face the people there. Ritabrata said Siddiqui should first visit his Assembly constituency and meet the people before his allegations would be answered.
According to the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election figures, Siddiqui was elected from the Amdanga Assembly constituency as an AITC candidate. His name is recorded as Mohammad Qasim Siddiqui in the election records.
Siddiqui has reiterated that his political association with Mamata Banerjee is not limited to the current circumstances. He said he would remain with Mamata Banerjee as long as he remains active in politics.
Ritabrata Banerjee’s response has added to the exchange between the two sides. His challenge to Siddiqui to face voters in Amdanga questioned the claims made by the MLA.
Siddiqui has now publicly ended his association with Ritabrata Banerjee’s rebel group and reiterated his political allegiance to Mamata Banerjee. He said he won the election on the basis of Mamata Banerjee’s leadership and work and would remain with her through the final phase of his active political career.
