The internal crisis within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has intensified dramatically, with 19 Lok Sabha Members of Parliament openly rebelling against party chief Mamata Banerjee and reportedly submitting a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The development has pushed the ruling West Bengal party to the brink of a significant split in Parliament.
The list of rebel MPs includes several prominent faces of the TMC, among them four-time Barasat MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who was long regarded as one of Mamata Banerjee's closest political associates. Other notable signatories include Jadavpur MP Saayoni Ghosh, Baharampur MP Yusuf Pathan, Birbhum MP Satabdi Roy, Medinipur MP June Malia, and Hooghly MP Rachna Banerjee.
The 19 MPs who have reportedly signed the letter are:
The rebellion has significantly weakened the TMC's position in the Lok Sabha, where the party currently holds 28 seats. With 19 MPs reportedly backing the revolt, concerns are growing about a possible formal split within the parliamentary party.
Speculation had also emerged that veteran actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha was among the signatories. However, sources close to him dismissed the reports. Sinha later clarified his position, expressing unwavering support for Mamata Banerjee.
"I will not leave Mamata Banerjee in her difficult time. She stood by me when I was facing a tough time after losing the election in Patna. I am grateful to those who invited me to join the TMC rebel group, but my principled stand is that I should stand by Mamata Banerjee now. As of now, I won't change my path," Sinha told PTI.
Many of the rebel MPs have reportedly blamed Mamata Banerjee's nephew and senior party leader Abhishek Banerjee for the growing unrest within the party. The criticism escalated further on Thursday when senior TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee issued a sharp ultimatum to the party leadership.
Kalyan Banerjee, who resigned as the TMC chief whip in the Lok Sabha last year, demanded that Abhishek Banerjee be removed from all leadership roles within the party.
"I will remain in this party only if Abhishek is removed from all leadership positions and retained only as an ordinary worker," he told reporters, accusing the TMC national general secretary of having a "fluctuating mindset."
The remarks have placed Mamata Banerjee in an increasingly difficult position as she struggles to contain the rebellion that has been brewing since the party's defeat in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. While the TMC chief has not yet publicly responded to the criticism directed at Abhishek Banerjee, she has reportedly blamed the BJP for attempting to destabilize her party.
Political observers believe the coming days could prove crucial for the future of the TMC. With a large section of its parliamentary strength now openly challenging the leadership, the party faces one of the most serious internal crises since its formation, raising questions about its unity and political direction ahead of future electoral battles.
Leave Your Comment