THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, June 8: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar has claimed that nearly 20 party MPs have decided to support the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and have written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to formally communicate their decision.
The development marks a major challenge for Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee, who was attending a meeting of the INDIA Bloc when the announcement was made.
Speaking to reporters, Ghosh Dastidar said the group believes that, based on the people’s verdict, its “future political course should be aligned with the NDA.”
“Nearly 20 Trinamool MPs, including me, have decided to write to Speaker Om Birla and formally convey our desire to be part of the NDA,” she said.
Rebel MPs Form Separate Bloc
Rebel TMC MP Sharmila Sarkar said the dissident lawmakers are creating a separate group within Parliament.
“We are forming a different bloc of 20 MPs and going to give support to the NDA. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar is our chief whip and Shatabdi Roy is our deputy leader,” Sarkar told reporters.
The announcement follows a meeting held at the residence of BJP leader Bhupendra Yadav in New Delhi.
The move mirrors recent political developments in West Bengal, where 58 Trinamool MLAs, led by expelled rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee, have formed a separate bloc and claimed to be the “real” Trinamool Congress.
The dispute is linked to the party’s choice of Shobhandeb Chatterjee as the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly. Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee accepted Ritabrata Banerjee for the position and reportedly handed him the keys to the party’s room in the Assembly.
Removal as Chief Whip Triggers Fresh Rift
For Ghosh Dastidar, the immediate trigger appears to have been her removal as the party’s chief whip in the Lok Sabha. She had publicly expressed dissatisfaction after Kalyan Banerjee was appointed to the role.
The Barasat MP later resigned from her party post and criticised the party’s decision to engage political consultancy firm I-PAC.
Describing her removal as “arbitrary” and “unilateral,” Ghosh Dastidar argued that the decision did not automatically alter her constitutional or parliamentary status.
“The party chairperson may have announced my replacement from the post, but that does not alter the constitutional and parliamentary position overnight,” she said.
Meeting Near INDIA Bloc Venue Raises Political Stakes
The rebel MPs’ declaration came after a meeting at BJP leader Bhupendra Yadav’s residence, located close to the venue where Mamata Banerjee was attending the INDIA Bloc meeting.
Sources indicated that one of the topics under discussion at the opposition meeting was how to address growing dissent among Trinamool lawmakers.
However, Ghosh Dastidar maintained that the decision was taken after extensive consultations with fellow MPs.
“This decision comes after extensive discussions among fellow MPs. As of now, I remain the Chief Whip of the Trinamool in the Lok Sabha, and in that capacity, I have consulted colleagues before arriving at this decision,” she said.
Numbers May Help Rebels Avoid Anti-Defection Issues
Political observers note that the reported support of nearly 20 MPs could be significant in the context of anti-defection provisions, suggesting the move may have been carefully planned.
Speculation about a possible rebellion among Trinamool MPs has been growing over the past week.
The developments come amid increasing political turbulence within the Trinamool Congress following the West Bengal Assembly election results.
Several senior leaders, including party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, have reportedly faced public protests. Some party leaders have openly criticised the leadership, while second-rung leaders and nearly 100 councillors are said to have resigned.
Observers also point to a symbolic shift within the party, with some members reportedly referring to Mamata Banerjee by name rather than the familiar “Didi,” a term long associated with her leadership.