In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Sagarika Ghose, Rajya Sabha MP, Trinamool Congress, discusses the unprecedented political crisis facing the Trinamool Congress following its defeat in the West Bengal 2026 Assembly election. As the party grapples with defections by senior leaders, legislators, and parliamentarians, Ghose offers her perspective on the reasons behind the exodus, the role of the BJP, and the future of Mamata Banerjee’s political project.
The conversation examines allegations of political intimidation, the use of investigative agencies against opposition leaders, questions surrounding the conduct of the 2026 election, and the growing debate over internal democracy within the Trinamool Congress. Ghose also reflects on Mamata Banerjee’s leadership, Abhishek Banerjee’s role in the party, the ideological foundations of the Trinamool Congress, and the party’s relationship with the Congress and the INDIA alliance. As Bengal’s political landscape undergoes a dramatic transformation, this discussion explores whether the Trinamool Congress can recover from its current crisis and what the developments mean for opposition politics in India.