The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is facing a catastrophic internal collapse as 20 of its 28 Lok Sabha MPs, led by senior leader Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, have revolted against party chief Mamata Banerjee.
The rebel faction has reportedly officially written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, declaring their intention to snap ties with the Abhishek Banerjee-led parliamentary party and merge into the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
This massive structural fracture unfolds concurrently with senior Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy resigning from both the Upper House and his primary party membership, signalling a widespread organizational implosion.
Crucially, the faction’s strength of 20 out of 28 Lower House members successfully shields them from the anti-defection law, allowing them to form a distinct legislative bloc without losing their seats.
“We held a meeting at Bhupender Yadav’s residence… We need to support NDA for Bengal’s development,” said Sharmila Sarkar, MP from Bardhaman Purba. “I respect Didi. I wanted to work, but I could not. Under the leadership of Kakoli di, this separate bloc has been formed.”
Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who maintains she is still the party’s chief whip in the Lok Sabha, emphasized that the decision aligns with the popular mandate following TMC’s crushing defeat in the recent West Bengal Assembly elections.
Compounding the crisis, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy’s resignation from the Rajya Sabha was accepted early Monday. Roy targeted the party’s legacy in a scathing parting statement:
“In the recently held West Bengal Assembly election, the people have given a huge mandate in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party… to put an end to 15 years of anarchical rule arising out of widespread unbridled corruption,” Roy stated, endorsing the newly elected state government.
Rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee echoed the sentiment, portraying Roy’s departure as a catalyst for broader dissent. He also lashed out at the party’s internal meritocracy:
“I sat on the last bench in Parliament for 15 months and witnessed junior leaders and RTI activists being awarded front seats. Parliamentary performance was never the yardstick of judgment. I felt terrible for Sukhenduda, who was also allotted the last bench.”
Political Fallout
The timing of the rebellion delivers a major blow to the opposition, occurring on the exact day Mamata Banerjee and national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee arrived in New Delhi to attend an INDIA opposition bloc strategy meeting.
This shift completely alters the balance of power in New Delhi. By absorbing the bulk of the third-largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha, the BJP significantly expands its parliamentary advantage, effectively neutralizing the opposition’s momentum while leaving the TMC leadership completely isolated. Rebel leaders warn that more disillusioned parliamentarians are likely to jump ship “with each passing hour.”
