The Trinamool Congress (TMC) plunged deeper into political turmoil on Thursday as Rajya Sabha MP Prakash Chik Baraik resigned from both the Upper House and the party. Baraik is the third TMC parliamentarian to exit this week, severely compounding the challenges facing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s leadership.
Baraik met with Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan to submit his resignation, citing the mandate given to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by the people of West Bengal as the catalyst for his decision.
In his official letter, Baraik reportedly wrote: “I do hereby resign from the membership of Rajya Sabha, which may please be accepted with immediate effect.” He further expressed his gratitude to the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, and the Rajya Sabha Secretariat for their cooperation during his tenure.
A prominent tribal leader from West Bengal, Baraik was a vital asset for the TMC’s outreach in indigenous pockets. Beyond his legislative role, he served on the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, as well as the Consultative Committee on Tribal Affairs.
Political observers note that his departure could severely fracture the TMC’s standing among tribal communities ahead of upcoming electoral battles. While the party leadership has attempted to downplay the exit, opposition parties have seized on the development, pointing to it as definitive proof of systemic rot and factionalism within the ruling party.
Baraik’s resignation caps off a devastating week for the TMC’s parliamentary delegation, marking the third high-profile exit in just four days.Veteran leader Sukhendu Sekhar Ray resigned from the Upper House and subsequently severed ties with the party, citing irreconcilable differences with the leadership. Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev resigned from both Parliament and the party. Later that day, she met with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in New Delhi, fueling intense speculation regarding her next political move. Prakash Chik Baraik formalizes his exit.
The parliamentary exodus is unfolding against the backdrop of a massive internal rebellion that has crippled the TMC’s legislative strength following its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly polls.
Last week, the party suffered a catastrophic blow when more than two-thirds of its MLAs—58 out of 80—broke away from the official TMC legislature party. Led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee, the rebel faction successfully secured recognition as the principal opposition bloc in the West Bengal Assembly. The camp claims its numbers have continued to grow.
The rebellion has rapidly metastasized to New Delhi. A dissident faction of MPs, led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, currently claims the support of more than 20 Lok Sabha members. The rebel camp gained further momentum on Wednesday when Jadavpur MP Saayoni Ghosh and Kolkata Dakshin MP Mala Roy openly aligned themselves with the dissident lawmakers.
As political equations in West Bengal rapidly evolve, the ongoing exodus of high-profile tribal faces and veteran lawmakers leaves the Mamata Banerjee-led party scrambling to contain a full-blown existential crisis.
