Played the biggest in TMC! Mamta’s concern increased due to the claims of 64 MLAs? Is TMC breaking or is a new game taking place? Rebel leader’s claim created a sensation? Big truth came out of closed room politics… What is the plan of TMC rebels?
Kolkata (West Bengal): The infighting within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is not showing any signs of stopping. Meanwhile, rebel party leader Ritabrata Banerjee has rejected all speculations that his faction may join the Congress. Ritabrata Banerjee, who was recently recognized as the Leader of Opposition (LoP) by the Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly, claimed that his camp now has 64 MLAs. Earlier this number was 58, who had signed the letter of support. He stressed that all these MLAs will soon strengthen their position by submitting a letter to the Speaker.
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Will rebel TMC MLAs go with Congress?
- Ritabrata Banerjee told ANI, “Right now we have 64 MLAs. These people will come and hand over the letter to the Speaker.” Putting an end to the ongoing discussions regarding the future of the rebel group, Banerjee clearly said, “As far as merger is concerned, our Legislative Party is not going to the Congress at all. Even in the Parliament, more than two-thirds of the MPs are not merging with the Congress.”
- He stressed that the rebellion is a matter within the organizational structure of TMC and has nothing to do with the alliance with the national opposition party. Banerjee asked, “Who is merging with whom? As far as we know, neither the MPs are going, nor we are going, nor the municipal representatives are going, nor the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat members are going. Then who is going? The question of merger does not arise.”
Congress also shrugged off
- On the other hand, senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Choudhary also distanced himself from the rumors of any kind of merger with TMC on Wednesday. Speaking to ANI in New Delhi, he said he had no knowledge of any such conversation and was completely “in the dark” on the matter.
- He said, “I have no knowledge about any merger or such things in Bengal. If any formal decision is taken, we will definitely be taken into confidence. If I am asked about it, I will speak, but right now I don’t know anything.”
Flurry of resignations in TMC
- TMC suffered another major blow when Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev resigned from the party and the membership of the Upper House on Wednesday. All this has happened amid the ongoing tussle within the party and a spate of resignations after the defeat in the assembly elections.
- Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan has accepted the resignation of Sushmita Dev. According to the Rajya Sabha Bulletin, his resignation is considered effective from June 10, 2026. After the resignation, Sushmita said that she now wants to work in Assam. He met Assam Chief Minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma in Delhi, after which speculations about his joining BJP have intensified.
- Earlier on June 8, Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Shekhar Ray had also resigned from TMC and Rajya Sabha. He had cited the Mamata Banerjee-led party’s “15 years of chaotic rule” as the reason for its defeat in the recent assembly elections.
Separate group of rebel MPs
- The troubles for TMC do not end here. Party MP Abhishek Banerjee met Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi at 10 Janpath in Delhi on Wednesday.
- Meanwhile, rebel TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar had told ANI that a group of 20 MPs has demanded the Lok Sabha Speaker to make separate seating arrangements. “We are 20 MPs and we will work together with the central and state governments for the development of West Bengal,” he said.
- The meeting of rebel MPs with Union Minister and BJP’s West Bengal election in-charge Bhupendra Yadav and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has given further fuel to the speculations about the merger of this group with the NDA.
- According to the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, also known as the anti-defection law, rebel MPs will need 2/3 majority to merge with a party to avoid disqualification. (ANI)