New Delhi: Following a major setback in the West Bengal assembly elections, the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) faces an unprecedented crisis as 20 rebel Members of Parliament (MPs) met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday evening to announce their decision to merge with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India. The sudden political realignment, which represents more than two thirds of the total strength of the TMC parliamentary party, allows the rebel faction to bypass anti-defection laws while pledging support to the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre.
The high voltage drama unfolded after a strategic meeting of the rebel lawmakers at the New Delhi residence of Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, which was also attended by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey. Soon after, a delegation led by senior leaders Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, and Shatabdi Roy approached Speaker Om Birla. Other prominent faces in the rebel group included Deepak Adhikari (Dev), Yusuf Pathan, Sayani Ghosh, Mala Roy, Arup Chakraborty, June Maliah, Prasun Banerjee, Sharmila Sarkar, Mitali Bag, Abu Taher, and Khalilur Rahman.
Confirming the development, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar stated that 20 elected TMC MPs submitted a formal letter to the Speaker requesting separate seating arrangements in the Lok Sabha. She added that the group decided to merge with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India, an outfit with a footprint across Assam, Tripura, West Bengal, and other northeastern states. Moving forward, the faction intends to actively work for the nation under the leadership of the Prime Minister and align with the NDA block.
Anticipating a legal battle, rebel MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay stated that the necessary application forms with requisite signatures have been submitted before the next Lok Sabha session resumes on July 20. He indicated that the final verdict on which faction represents the authentic Trinamool Congress would eventually be decided in court. Political analysts note that the choice to merge with an existing outfit was a calculated move to secure legal immunity after senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee sent a parallel letter to the Speaker, urging him not to recognise the rebel block.
Reacting sharply to the split, veteran TMC MP Saugata Roy criticized the defectors, claiming it is not surprising that those leaving the party are associating with the BJP leadership in charge of operations in West Bengal. He emphasized that the TMC fought fiercely against the NDA and called the move to join the ruling alliance ethically compromised. This massive rebellion has sent shockwaves through the political landscape of West Bengal, severely weakening the TMC block in Parliament while shifting the political balance at the Centre.