KOLKATA, India, June 8 — In a significant political development, nearly 20 Trinamool Congress (TMC) Members of Parliament have formally indicated their intention to break away from the party’s current political direction and support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Rebel TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar confirmed the development to ANI on Monday, responding with a thumbs-up emoji.
“A total of 20 TMC Members of Parliament have formally addressed a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressing their desire to extend support to the NDA, signaling a potential shift in the political landscape of West Bengal and national parliamentary dynamics,” Dastidar said.
The development comes amid growing internal turmoil within the party following its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections, which resulted in the state electing its first BJP-led government under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
The rift was on full display Monday as TMC chief Mamata Banerjee arrived in New Delhi for an INDIA bloc meeting at the Constitution Club. While Banerjee, national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, and other senior party leaders attended the opposition gathering, a group of dissident lawmakers met separately.
The rebel MPs, including Rajya Sabha member Sukhendu Shekhar Ray, who submitted his resignation earlier in the day, gathered at the Motilal Nehru Marg residence of Union Minister and BJP West Bengal election in-charge Bhupender Yadav. The meeting was also attended by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
The dissident faction’s move appears aimed at navigating the legal requirements of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. By securing the support of approximately 20 MPs, the group claims to have crossed the two-thirds threshold required under the anti-defection law’s merger provision. If recognized by parliamentary authorities, the faction could seek protection from disqualification and formally align itself with the NDA.
Under India’s anti-defection law, a faction must command at least two-thirds of a party’s parliamentary strength to avoid disqualification. With the TMC holding 28 Lok Sabha seats, the support of at least 19 MPs would be required to meet that threshold.
The unfolding developments represent one of the most significant parliamentary challenges faced by the TMC leadership and signal a potentially volatile new phase in West Bengal politics.
Meanwhile, the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) leadership has rejected Dastidar’s claim that she remains the party’s Chief Whip and reiterated that Kalyan Banerjee was officially appointed to the position last month.
Highlighting Banerjee’s appointment, the party cited a letter dated May 20, 2026, and stated, “This is the letter to the Speaker on the appointment of Kalyan as Chief Whip sent last month. In the current scenario, Kakoli’s letter holds no value.”
The letter, addressed to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, formally informed him of Kalyan Banerjee’s appointment as Chief Whip of the AITC in the Lok Sabha.
“I write to you as the Founder Chairperson of the All India Trinamool Congress, and the Chairperson of the All India Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party. This is to inform you that Kalyan Banerjee has been appointed as Chief Whip of the All India Trinamool Congress in the Lok Sabha with immediate effect. This is for your information and necessary action. Thank you so much for your cooperation,” Mamata Banerjee wrote.
Questioning the legitimacy of the dissident faction, the AITC also challenged the existence of any formal communication submitted to the Speaker bearing the signatures of the rebel lawmakers.
“Also, where is the letter along with signatures to the Speaker written by the so-called rebel group?” the party asked.
While the rebel camp insists it has secured the required support and maintains that Dastidar is its Chief Whip, the AITC continues to reject those claims and uphold its official organizational structure.
Earlier, Dastidar resigned as president of the All India Trinamool Mahila Congress on May 28, citing concerns over alleged misogynistic behavior within the party and other issues that she said had deeply troubled her conscience.
The latest developments come amid a broader rebellion led by expelled TMC MLA Ritabrata Banerjee in the West Bengal Assembly.
Banerjee, who was expelled from the party for alleged anti-party activities, formed a separate faction in the state assembly with the support of 58 MLAs. He was later elected Leader of the Opposition, replacing Sobhandev Chattopadhyay.
About The Author
