New Delhi: West Bengal’s political temperature rose further after BJP MP Saumitra Khan claimed that around 50 Trinamool Congress MLAs and 20 MPs were unhappy with their party and ready to join the BJP. The claim comes at a time when the TMC is already facing internal unease after its electoral setback and a series of resignations by local leaders.
Speaking in Bankura, Khan said several TMC legislators and MPs were in touch with the BJP and were waiting for approval from the party’s central leadership. He went a step further and claimed that if the BJP high command gave a signal, the Trinamool Congress would no longer remain a political force. Similar remarks were also reported by India Today, which said Khan alleged that the possible defection depended on a green signal from the BJP leadership.
Khan also launched a sharp personal attack on TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee. Referring to recent developments outside Banerjee’s residence, he said a bulldozer was now standing in front of his house and alleged that in 2021, BJP workers’ homes had been demolished. His remarks added another layer of bitterness to the already tense political atmosphere in the state.
The claim has come against the backdrop of visible turbulence within the TMC. A day earlier, Barasat MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and six TMC MLAs reportedly attended an administrative meeting chaired by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar had also been removed from the post of TMC chief whip in the Lok Sabha, and the Centre later provided her Y category security.
The TMC, however, has strongly rejected Khan’s claim. Party MP Saugata Roy said the statement was completely false and accused the BJP of spreading misinformation. He said nothing of the kind was going to happen, even though several TMC leaders have publicly expressed dissatisfaction in recent days.
The political significance of Khan’s statement lies in the numbers he mentioned. West Bengal has 42 Lok Sabha seats, and in the 2024 general election, the TMC won 29, BJP 12 and Congress one. Khan’s claim that 20 TMC MPs were ready to cross over has therefore triggered fresh speculation, as such a number would be crucial in avoiding disqualification under anti defection provisions.
For now, Khan’s remarks remain a political claim, not a confirmed defection move. But they have intensified the debate over whether the TMC is facing a temporary organisational crisis or a deeper internal churn.