The TMC was formed by Mamata Banerjee on 1 January 1998, after she left the Indian National Congress due to internal disagreements. The party started as a regional challenger but soon gained momentum, especially among the rural and urban poor of West Bengal.
TMC rose to power by leading widespread movements against land acquisition policies under the Left government—most notably in Nandigram and Singur. These movements helped the party gain public sympathy and electoral strength, eventually ending the 34-year rule of the Left Front in West Bengal in 2011.
Since then, Mamata Banerjee has led the state as Chief Minister and the party has won consecutive assembly elections in 2016 and 2021, reinforcing its stronghold.