Kolkata, July 15 -- Despite facing continuous resignations and rebellion within the Trinamool Congress following its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections, party chief and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee struck a confident tone on Wednesday, asserting that she could rebuild the party from the ground up, just as she did in 2006.

Addressing the situation in a video message, Banerjee alleged that Kamarhati MLA and former West Bengal minister Madan Mitra, who has joined the rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee after resigning from AITC, had told her that his family was being threatened.

Her claim is at odds with Mitra's own stated explanation for his exit, in which he cited being "unable to work effectively" and claimed that...