TMC Crisis Deepens: 20 MPs, Led By Kakoli Ghosh, To Back NDA

Around 20 Lok Sabha MPs, led by chief whip Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, broke away from the party leadership and said they would extend support to the NDA. In the Rajya Sabha, senior MP Sukhendu Shekhar Roy resigned.

The development comes days after dissent within the party in the West Bengal Assembly, where several MLAs opposed decisions of TMC chief Mamata Banerjee.

With the support of the rebel MPs, the NDA’s strength in the Lok Sabha is stated to have risen to 313 in the 543-member House. The rebel group is expected to function as a separate bloc while extending support to the NDA.

The TMC currently has 28 members in the Lok Sabha, including one vacancy. The support of 20 MPs would cross the two-thirds threshold required under the anti-defection law.

Roy said, “I have met the Rajya Sabha chairman and submitted my resignation. I have conveyed my decision to resign from the party through WhatsApp and email to Mamata Banerjee. I had my tenure till 2029 in the Rajya Sabha, but I have resigned in principle from the party as it would be difficult for me to continue,” he told reporters.

Addressing the development, Dastidar said, “Nearly 20 TMC MPs, along with me, have decided to write to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and formally convey our desire to be part of the NDA. This decision comes after extensive discussions among fellow MPs. As of now, I remain the Chief Whip of the TMC in the Lok Sabha, and in that capacity I have consulted colleagues before arriving at this decision. My removal was arbitrary and unilateral. The party chairperson may have announced my replacement from the post, but that does not alter the constitutional and parliamentary position overnight. We have accepted the people's verdict and believe that our future political course should be aligned with the NDA. Accordingly, we will be communicating our decision to the Speaker. We want to be part of the NDA.”

Reacting to the move, TMC MP Mahua Moitra said, “Mandate was NOT for NDA. All the greedy self-serving traitors with yellow-stained pants can please join BJP now-resign your seats and contest on BJP ticket. Let’s see what big heroes you are.”

Earlier, TMC MP Kirti Azad expressed support for Mamata Banerjee, stating, "I am with Didi until death," and warned that she would respond strongly to the challenge.

Senior leaders of the BJP, including Bhupender Yadav, Suvendu Adhikari and Biplab Kumar Deb, held a meeting with some of the rebel MPs.

The developments took place even as Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee were in Delhi for a meeting of opposition parties.

The TMC leadership maintained that it was aware of internal differences and expressed confidence in retaining support.