West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is set to hold a crucial meeting with party legislators at her residence as the ruling party grapples with one of its most serious internal challenges in recent years.

The meeting comes at a time when the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is facing visible dissent from a section of its MLAs, raising concerns over party unity and legislative strength. The gathering is being closely watched as a test of whether Mamata Banerjee can bring disgruntled lawmakers back into the party fold.

Attendance under scrutiny after recent setbacks

The latest meeting assumes significance after an earlier gathering at Mamata Banerjee’s residence reportedly witnessed poor attendance, forcing the session to be called off. Reports suggested that only a fraction of the party’s legislators attended, triggering speculation about growing unrest within the organisation.

The internal turbulence has intensified following claims by a rebel faction that it enjoys the support of a substantial number of TMC legislators. The developments have sparked concerns about the party’s cohesion in the state assembly.

Leadership faces challenge from rebel camp

The rebellion has largely been linked to dissatisfaction among some legislators regarding the party’s leadership structure and decision-making process. While several reports indicate that the anger of dissenting MLAs is directed more towards sections of the party leadership than Mamata Banerjee herself, the crisis has nevertheless emerged as a major challenge for the TMC chief.

Recent developments, including the recognition of a rebel-backed opposition leader in the West Bengal Assembly and subsequent legal and political battles, have further highlighted divisions within the party.

Meeting expected to focus on party unity

Party leaders are expected to use the meeting to assess support within the legislative wing, discuss the ongoing political situation and explore ways to restore unity ahead of future political battles in the state.

Political observers believe the outcome of the meeting could provide a clearer picture of whether the Trinamool Congress can contain the rebellion or whether the internal crisis is likely to deepen further in the coming weeks.

Senior Congress leader and Karnataka minister Ramalinga Reddy has resigned from the state cabinet, just days after taking oath in the newly formed government led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. The resignation follows his reported dissatisfaction with the portfolio allotted to him.

According to reports, Reddy was assigned the Major and Medium Irrigation department during the cabinet portfolio distribution announced on Friday. However, the veteran leader was said to be seeking the Bengaluru Development portfolio, which eventually went to Krishna Byre Gowda.

The development comes at a sensitive time for the new Karnataka government, which was sworn in earlier this week after D.K. Shivakumar took charge as Chief Minister. Portfolio allocation had reportedly been delayed amid intense lobbying for several key departments, including those linked to Bengaluru’s administration and infrastructure.

Reddy cites repeated humiliation

In his resignation, Ramalinga Reddy reportedly expressed strong disappointment with the manner in which the portfolio allocation was handled. He is said to have felt sidelined despite his seniority in the party and flagged what he described as a reversal of earlier assurances.

Reports indicated that meetings were held involving Shivakumar, Reddy and other senior leaders as efforts were made to resolve the issue. However, the discussions did not result in a breakthrough, leading to Reddy’s decision to step down from the ministry.

Early challenge for Shivakumar government

Reddy’s resignation marks one of the first major political challenges for the newly formed Congress government in Karnataka. The cabinet formation process had already drawn attention due to competition for influential portfolios and ongoing efforts to balance various factions within the party.

It remains to be seen whether the Congress leadership will attempt to persuade Reddy to reconsider his decision or move ahead with a cabinet reshuffle to address the vacancy.

The controversy surrounding NEET UG 2026 has taken a new turn after allegations surfaced that a group of brokers was offering admission to government medical colleges by manipulating candidates’ OMR answer sheets for a hefty payment. The claims come at a time when the medical entrance examination is already under intense scrutiny following the paper leak row and the subsequent decision to conduct a re-examination.

According to reports, a candidate from Gujarat approached authorities after allegedly being contacted by intermediaries who claimed they could secure enough marks for admission to a government medical college by tampering with OMR sheets. The alleged demand was around Rs. 20 lakh per candidate.

Alleged racket avoided promises of top ranks

The complainant claimed that the brokers did not offer unrealistically high scores or top ranks. Instead, they allegedly promised to increase marks only to the extent required for securing admission to a government medical college, a strategy reportedly designed to avoid raising suspicion during scrutiny.

The matter has reportedly been brought to the attention of the Gujarat Cyber Crime Cell through a written complaint, prompting calls for a detailed investigation into the claims.

OMR manipulation concerns have surfaced before

The allegations have renewed concerns about the security of OMR-based examinations. In recent years, courts and investigating agencies have examined multiple cases involving alleged OMR manipulation linked to medical entrance examinations. The Gujarat High Court recently observed that allegations in a NEET-UG 2024 OMR manipulation case warranted a full trial after investigators claimed students’ answer sheets were altered to inflate scores.

Authorities have also previously received complaints from candidates alleging discrepancies in uploaded OMR sheets, though such claims have been disputed by examination authorities in several instances.

NEET UG 2026 already facing scrutiny

The latest allegations come against the backdrop of the wider NEET UG 2026 controversy. The examination conducted on May 3 was cancelled following allegations of a paper leak, and a fresh examination has been scheduled for June 21. Multiple investigations are underway, while courts and parliamentary bodies are also examining issues related to the conduct of the exam.

Authorities have not publicly confirmed the OMR manipulation allegations, and investigations are expected to determine whether any such network was actually capable of influencing examination outcomes.