New Delhi: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) was plunged deeper into political turmoil on Monday after a group of around 20 Lok Sabha MPs, led by party Chief Whip Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, reportedly declared support for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), triggering a major split in the party’s parliamentary ranks and intensifying the leadership challenge confronting Mamata Banerjee.
The development comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the TMC, which has been grappling with internal dissent and political setbacks following its recent Assembly election defeat.
According to sources, the dissident MPs have written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla informing him of their decision to support the NDA. Speaking to the media, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar confirmed the move, saying that nearly 20 TMC MPs had decided to formally back the ruling alliance at the Centre.
“We have accepted the people’s verdict and believe that our future political course should be aligned with the NDA,” Dastidar reportedly said.
The rebel camp is also expected to argue before the Speaker that Dastidar remains the legally recognised chief whip of the party in the Lok Sabha. Sources claimed that although the TMC leadership had announced her replacement by senior MP Kalyan Banerjee, the change was allegedly not communicated to the Lok Sabha Secretariat through the required parliamentary procedures.
Adding weight to reports of a coordinated rebellion, several dissident MPs reportedly attended a meeting at the residence of Union Minister Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi. The gathering is said to have focused on discussions regarding the future political strategy of the rebel group and its possible alignment with the BJP.
Among those reported to have attended were former Rajya Sabha member Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and TMC Lok Sabha MPs including Prasun Banerjee, Sharmila Sarkar, Jagadish Chandra Basunia, Kalipada Saren Kherwal and Arup Chakraborty. A photograph purportedly showing several MPs at the meeting circulated on social media, although its authenticity could not be independently verified.
While the dissident group projected strength, some senior TMC leaders attempted to downplay suggestions of a mass exodus. Veteran parliamentarian Sougata Roy stated that he had not been part of the meeting and remained committed to the party.
“I have heard that some MPs held a separate meeting. Only they can explain what transpired there. I was not contacted,” Roy said. He further revealed that he had received overtures to switch sides but rejected them, emphasizing his decision to remain with the TMC.
The crisis was further compounded by the resignation of veteran Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray from both Parliament and the Trinamool Congress. Ray said he had communicated his decision to Mamata Banerjee through WhatsApp and email before formally submitting his resignation to Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan.
Explaining his move, Ray cited concerns over governance and organizational functioning within the party. He suggested that growing public dissatisfaction with the TMC had become impossible to ignore. Although he denied any formal connection between his resignation and the rebellion among MPs, his presence at the Delhi meeting fueled speculation about broader discontent within the party.
The latest developments come on the heels of another major setback for the TMC. Recently, around 60 party MLAs reportedly formed a separate group in the West Bengal Assembly, leading to a significant challenge to the authority of the party leadership. The emergence of parallel power centres within both the Assembly and Parliament has intensified concerns about the party’s internal stability.
Ironically, the parliamentary revolt unfolded while Mamata Banerjee and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee were attending an INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi. The gathering, which included senior opposition leaders such as Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, focused on opposition unity, democratic safeguards and issues affecting citizens’ livelihoods.
The contrast between the INDIA bloc’s public message of opposition solidarity and the internal crisis facing one of its key constituents has drawn significant political attention. With consultations among dissident MPs continuing and uncertainty surrounding the party’s parliamentary future, the struggle for control over the TMC’s political narrative appears set to intensify in the coming days.
