In a massive blow to Mamata Banerjee, veteran TMC MLA Madan Mitra has joined the rebel party faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee. The dramatic shift occurred just a day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoned Mitra’s wife and two sons for questioning regarding the multi-crore West Bengal municipal recruitment scam.

Mitra confirmed he has resigned from all organizational committees of the Mamata-aligned "Kalighat TMC," though he remains an MLA. Downplaying the defection, he remarked that he had merely "changed rooms, not the house," claiming the rebel camp represents the "real" TMC.

However, Mitra launched a scathing attack on TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, accusing the leadership of prioritizing Abhishek's safety over the party’s survival. While Mitra denied that the ED pressure prompted his exit, his defection follows other high-profile exits, deepening the crisis for Mamata Banerjee.