The Trinamool Congress on Tuesday dissolved all its committees and frontal organisations in West Bengal amid growing speculation of a major split within the party.
In a statement, the Mamata Banerjee-led party said all committees and frontal organisations in the state stood dissolved with immediate effect. It added that a comprehensive review of the party's organisational structure, performance, and functioning would be conducted before new bodies are reconstituted.
The move comes as the party faces an escalating internal crisis following the expulsion of MLA Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha for anti-party activities.
A day after their expulsion, the two leaders submitted a letter claiming the support of 60 MLAs in the 80-member TMC legislative party. They said this crossed the two-thirds threshold required under anti-defection provisions.
The rebel group has proposed Ritabrata Banerjee's name for the post of Leader of the Opposition while maintaining that Mamata Banerjee should continue to lead the party.
The dispute has intensified amid allegations by the expelled leaders that signatures of several MLAs were forged on a resolution appointing the Leader of the Opposition and other key legislative positions.
Ritabrata Banerjee has also accused Abhishek Banerjee, Mamata Banerjee's nephew, of turning the party into a "corporate entity" and claimed that the party has been "hijacked" by political consultancy firm I-PAC.
The developments are being seen as a direct challenge to Abhishek Banerjee's influence within the party. With the rebel camp claiming the support of 60 legislators, the crisis has emerged as one of the most serious internal challenges faced by the TMC in recent years.