India, June 2 -- Amid mounting speculation of a split within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), senior party leader Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay on Tuesday asserted that the majority of the party's MLAs remain firmly loyal to former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and that the party's veteran leadership continues to hold control over the organisation.

The Ballygunge MLA alleged that efforts were being made by the ruling establishment to engineer defections and weaken the opposition, but maintained that the TMC remained united despite the political turbulence.

His remarks come against the backdrop of intense rumours that a section of TMC legislators may break away under the leadership of expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee. Political circles in West Be...