How the nature of Trinamool’s leadership changed over time - The Hindu

Summary of the Trinamool Congress Leadership Changes

This article, based on a study by Mahmood and Bhattacharya (2025), examines the transformation of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal since its rise to power in 2011. It moves beyond existing explanations focusing on populism and welfarism to analyze the party's evolving organizational structure and leadership.

Class and Caste Composition of TMC Support

The study uses data from the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) to analyze the socio-economic profiles of TMC candidates from 2011 to 2021. Key findings include:

• A significant increase in the representation of non-forward castes and SC/ST among TMC MLAs.
• A rise in candidates identifying as business owners and full-time political workers.
• Increased educational levels and average assets among TMC candidates.

This shift is interpreted as a rise of a new, commercially-oriented class within the TMC, distinct from the traditional middle class.

Impact on Government Policies

Analysis of West Bengal's state budgets (2016-2021) reveals that while social sector spending remains high, capital expenditure is directed towards sectors benefiting the newly dominant commercial class, like transport and rural development.

This indirect support for sectors such as real estate, trade, and tourism consolidates the political and economic power of this group.

Conclusion

The authors conclude that the TMC's success stems from a strategy of combining marginal benefits for the poor with indirect patronage of a non-hegemonic commercial class.