West Bengal PAC Formation Revives Trinamool Congress Factional Equations

West Bengal PAC Formation has once again brought the internal dynamics of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) into the spotlight. The constitution of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), one of the most influential committees of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, has sparked fresh political discussions over factional representation within the ruling party.
With six Trinamool Congress MLAs nominated to the committee from two different camps, political observers believe the selection of the PAC Chairperson could significantly influence the balance of power within the party.

PAC Formation Rekindles Internal TMC Equations
The newly constituted Public Accounts Committee consists of 20 members drawn from both the treasury and opposition benches of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.

Among them, six legislators belong to the Trinamool Congress. According to Assembly sources, the composition of the TMC nominees reflects the party's current internal political alignments.

Five legislators—Biplab Mitra, Firhad Hakim, Golam Rabbani, Kanaiyalal Agarwal and Samar Mukherjee—have reportedly been nominated by the faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee.

The Kalighat camp, on the other hand, has nominated only one MLA, Ashok Deb, to the committee.
The nominations have reignited political speculation over the evolving power equations within the Trinamool Congress after the 2026 Assembly elections.

Apart from the six Trinamool legislators, the remaining 14 members of the Public Accounts Committee include legislators from the ruling alliance.

According to sources, the list features several prominent MLAs, including:
Amlan Bhaduri
Bankim Chandra Ghosh
Hironmoy Chattopadhyay
Krishnendu Mukhopadhyay
Rajesh Kumar
Rupa Gangopadhyay
The complete committee is expected to begin functioning once the Assembly formally approves its constitution.

PAC Chairperson Likely from Trinamool
Under long-standing Assembly convention, the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee is expected to be selected from among the six Trinamool Congress legislators nominated to the panel.

Given the numerical strength of the nominees, political analysts believe the chairmanship is likely to go to a representative from the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction, potentially strengthening its influence within the Assembly.

The appointment is being closely watched because of its political significance as well as its role in legislative oversight.

Why the Public Accounts Committee Matters
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is regarded as one of the most important financial oversight bodies in the Legislative Assembly.

Its primary responsibilities include:
Examining government expenditure.
Reviewing reports submitted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
Ensuring accountability in the utilisation of public funds.
Scrutinising whether public money has been spent in accordance with legislative approvals.
Because of these responsibilities, the PAC Chairperson plays a key role in maintaining transparency and financial accountability in government functioning.