The Trinamool Congress faces a deepening internal revolt as rebel MPs move to back the NDA, challenging Mamata Banerjee’s authority and raising fresh questions about the party’s future and unity.
Photo : ANI
The Trinamool Congress’ internal crisis has spilled from the West Bengal Assembly to Parliament, with a group of rebel MPs openly challenging Mamata Banerjee’s leadership and moving closer to the BJP-led NDA.
The latest flashpoint comes days after a revolt by TMC legislators in the Bengal Assembly. Now, dissident MPs claim they have the numbers to chart an independent political course, raising questions about Mamata Banerjee’s grip over the party at a time when she is attempting to reposition herself at the national level through the INDIA bloc.
On a day when Mamata Banerjee and party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee attended an INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi, Lok Sabha MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who has emerged as the face of the rebellion in Parliament, said a group of MPs had decided to formally declare support for the NDA.
“Nearly twenty TMC MPs, including me, have decided to write to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and formally support the NDA,” she told PTI.
“We have accepted the people’s verdict and believe that our future political course should be aligned with the NDA,” Ghosh Dastidar said.
The TMC currently has 28 Lok Sabha MPs, with one vacancy following the death of Basirhat MP Haji Nurul Islam. If the rebels indeed command the support of 20 MPs, they would cross the two-thirds mark often cited in discussions surrounding anti-defection provisions.
Sources said the dissident camp plans to argue before the Speaker that Ghosh Dastidar continues to be the party’s chief whip in the Lok Sabha.
The TMC leadership, however, rejected the claim. Party leaders said Mamata Banerjee had already communicated the removal of Ghosh Dastidar as chief whip and the appointment of Kalyan Banerjee in her place through a letter sent to the Lok Sabha Secretariat in May.
Party MP Kirti Azad backed the leadership’s position and questioned the rebels’ political motives.
“The question is for how long the BJP will keep hoodwinking the people?” he said.
Rebels Test Legal Limits, TMC Questions Morality
According to sources, the rebel MPs are not planning to immediately resign from the TMC or join the BJP. Instead, they intend to function as a separate bloc that supports the NDA, a strategy that they believe could help them avoid disqualification under anti-defection provisions.
The TMC, however, insists the rebels’ reading of the law is flawed.
“As per the law, even if two-thirds of MPs wish to leave a party, the only choice they have is to merge with another political party. There is no provision for a separate group,” a senior TMC leader said.
The leader also questioned the ethics of remaining elected on a TMC ticket while backing the BJP-led alliance.
“Since all these MPs got elected on TMC ticket they should do what Sukhendu did — resign instead of getting into a situation where they will support BJP from the backdoor. If they wanted to fight the BJP they should fight now,” the leader said.
“They’ve all been elected on the TMC symbol, opposed to BJP policies. None of them can form another bloc even if they get two-thirds. It is a legislative party, not a political party. Lawyers have told us they have no case. It’s illegal, unconstitutional and unethical,” the person added.
Meanwhile, the political messaging from the rebel camp has become increasingly public.
A group of dissident MPs reportedly met senior BJP leader Bhupender Yadav in Delhi. Photographs circulating online showed Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Shekhar Ray alongside several TMC parliamentarians. Sources also claimed that around 20 MPs attended a separate strategy meeting in the national capital, where concerns were raised over the party’s parliamentary leadership structure.
Not everyone in the TMC appears ready to switch sides.
Veteran MP Sougata Roy dismissed speculation of a mass exodus and revealed that he had rejected overtures from the BJP.
“I have heard that some MPs held a separate meeting last night. Only they can say what transpired in the meeting. I was not contacted by them,” Roy said.
“I told them I will remain with the TMC. At this age, it won’t be possible for me to change camp,” the 78-year-old four-term MP told PTI.
Mahua Moitra’s Sharp Attack, Sukhendu Ray Quits
As the crisis deepened, TMC MP Mahua Moitra launched a blistering attack on the dissident camp.
In a post on X, she reminded rebel MPs that they were elected on a TMC mandate and not on a platform supporting the NDA.
“MPs won in 2024 on TMC ticket. Mandate was NOT for NDA. All the greedy self-serving traitors with yellow-stained pants can please join BJP now — resign your seats & contest on BJP ticket. Let’s see what big heroes you are,” she wrote.
Moitra also targeted TMC MP Yusuf Pathan directly.
“And @iamyusufpathan you are rushing to Delhi because @AmitShah has called you? Have some courage. You played for India. Our district voted you in with a huge margin. Have some shame & some spine,” she wrote.
The rebellion received a significant boost when Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Shekhar Ray resigned from both the Upper House and the TMC.
“I have met the Rajya Sabha chairman and submitted my resignation. I have conveyed my decision to resign from the party through WhatsApp and email to Mamata Banerjee,” Ray told reporters.
“I had my tenure till 2029 in the Rajya Sabha, but I have resigned in principle from the party as it would be difficult for me to continue,” he said.
Ray also accused the TMC of presiding over “15-year anarchical rule” in West Bengal.