Sukhendu Sekhar Ray’s exit from TMC shows divisions in INDIA bloc’s unity

Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, a senior leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), resigned from both the Rajya Sabha and the party on June 8, 2026. His departure is a major setback for Mamata Banerjee’s party and the INDIA bloc. Ray announced his decision at an important opposition meeting in New Delhi, drawing attention to the widening divisions within the anti-BJP alliance after the TMC’s heavy loss in the West Bengal Assembly elections, in which the BJP won 207 of 294 seats.

Ray’s resignation reduces TMC’s Rajya Sabha seats from 13 to 12, creating a vacancy that will lead to a by-election. Although the change in numbers is small, the symbolic impact is important. The INDIA bloc depends on regional partners like the TMC to lead debates and review government bills. Since the NDA already has an advantage, losing even one seat makes it tougher for the opposition to push back or slow down new laws. Analysts say this is the first major parliamentary setback for the TMC after its defeat.

Ray, who helped found the TMC and served as Chief Whip, explained his reasons for leaving. He pointed to ‘anarchical rule,’ corruption, crimes against women, and problems in health, education, and law and order. After stepping down, he met with TMC Lok Sabha MPs, sparking rumours that others might also leave. A few days earlier, 58 TMC MLAs had publicly questioned the party’s position on the Leader of Opposition role.

This unrest could disrupt the parliamentary group and weaken the bloc’s main support in eastern India. The June 8 meeting of 23 parties was meant to show unity after several election losses, but instead revealed serious divisions. Ray’s resignation and the DMK’s boycott over Congress’s alleged ‘betrayal’ in Tamil Nadu both show rising tensions. Congress, which leads the bloc, now faces questions about whether it can keep the alliance together. West Bengal, once a stronghold for the INDIA bloc, is now under BJP control.

The TMC’s defeat not only gives the BJP a clear win in the state but also hurts the alliance’s reputation as a strong national opponent. In the Rajya Sabha, where every vote matters, losing a senior TMC leader at this time could lower morale and reduce the bloc’s influence. With the 2029 Lok Sabha elections approaching, this situation will test the alliance’s strength. If the TMC splits or loses more ground in Bengal, the opposition could lose an important balance in a state that sends many MPs to parliament.

Ray’s resignation is not just an internal TMC matter. Ray’s resignation is more than just an issue for the TMC. It is a real test of the INDIA bloc’s unity since 2024. The alliance has faced challenges before, but these events reveal a common weakness: if one part fails, the whole group is affected. The result of the Delhi meeting will show whether the bloc can turn its setbacks into new motivation or remain caught in growing divisions and empty promises.