Mamata Banerjee's rebellion comes full circle

Mamata Banerjee's political journey began with a rebellion against the established Congress party in the mid-1990s. After founding the Trinamool Congress in 1998, the TMC became her vehicle to end 34 years of Left Front rule in Bengal. Over the years, the party witnessed several rebellions, but none managed to displace her as its political leader.

However, recent events have turned inward, with a revolt within the party now threatening its identity and the legacy she built. The Election Commission's interim decision to bar both rival factions from using the TMC's name and symbol in upcoming bypolls has escalated the situation into a direct battle over the party's electoral identity.

At the heart of this struggle lies a larger question: who controls the political legacy of a party deeply associated with Mamata for the past 28 years? As the TMC faces electoral defeat and internal strife, Mamata's authority and the party's future are at stake.