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Reports say around 20 MPs are currently gathered at an undisclosed location in Delhi to discuss options that include forming a separate parliamentary bloc or resigning from TMC
Any substantial split in TMC will not only weaken Mamata Banerjee’s influence nationally but could also alter the balance within the opposition alliance. (AI-Generated Image)
Just days after a dramatic rebellion rocked the Trinamool Congress in the West Bengal Assembly, signs are emerging that the political crisis may now be moving to Parliament.
According to a report by The Indian Express, around 20 Trinamool Congress MPs are currently gathered at an undisclosed location in Delhi and are discussing options that include forming a separate parliamentary bloc or even resigning from the party. The development comes amid growing concerns within the Mamata Banerjee-led party that the revolt that fractured its legislative wing in Bengal could soon spill over to its parliamentary ranks.
The development adds to a series of anxious moments the TMC is grappling with, including claims made by sources quoted by NDTV that several Trinamool MPs had become unreachable when party leaders attempted to contact them, with some allegedly switching off their phones and avoiding communication with the leadership.
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NDTV reported that a senior Trinamool Congress MP travelling from Mumbai to Kolkata made an unscheduled stop in Delhi on Sunday evening. During the brief halt, the MP is learnt to have held a series of low-profile meetings away from public attention, sources told the channel. According to the sources, the parliamentarian represents a constituency in the districts adjoining Kolkata.
A Trinamool MP from North 24 Parganas, who was reportedly overlooked for an Assembly ticket, has also remained out of contact for more than a day, with party insiders interpreting the silence as a sign of simmering discontent.
Sources also pointed to an actor-turned-parliamentarian who arrived in Delhi on Sunday and is believed to have been gradually distancing himself from the party. Adding to the leadership’s worries are at least two MPs from North Bengal who are also said to be unhappy with the current state of affairs.
Party insiders cited travel and connecting flights as explanations, but the episode fuelled speculation about growing dissent within the ranks.
A New Front In The Trinamool Crisis
The turmoil began after the West Bengal assembly elections, when a large section of Trinamool MLAs broke away from the party’s official leadership in the Assembly, creating an unprecedented challenge to Mamata Banerjee’s authority. The rebellion quickly transformed from a routine internal disagreement into the biggest crisis the party has faced since coming to power in Bengal.
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Now, attention has shifted to Parliament.
According to The Indian Express, rebel MPs believe they have the numbers required to chart an independent course, although rival claims persist regarding how many MPs remain loyal to Mamata Banerjee. While dissidents reportedly claim the support of around 20 MPs, leaders close to the Trinamool leadership insist the rebels have not yet secured the strength required for a formal split under anti-defection provisions.
NDTV had earlier reported that at least 20 Trinamool MPs were in touch with political intermediaries and exploring alternatives amid growing dissatisfaction within the party. Some rebel leaders also claimed that efforts were underway to remove Abhishek Banerjee as the party’s parliamentary leader.
Mamata’s Delhi Mission
The crisis has unfolded at a politically sensitive moment.
Mamata Banerjee arrived in Delhi ahead of the INDIA bloc meeting, officially to participate in opposition discussions. However, multiple reports suggest that preventing a split within her own parliamentary party has become an equally urgent priority. Senior leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee, have been holding consultations with MPs amid fears that dissidents could formally seek separate recognition in Parliament.
The stakes are significant. Trinamool currently remains one of the largest opposition parties in Parliament and a key constituent of the INDIA bloc. Any substantial split would not only weaken Mamata Banerjee’s influence nationally but could also alter the balance within the opposition alliance at a time when parties are attempting to regroup ahead of the Monsoon Session and future electoral battles.
In an attempt to quell the rebellion, Banerjee carrid out an organisational reshuffle. While Abhishek Banerjee continues to be the party’s national general secretary, two joint national secretaries, Rajya Sabha MPs Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen, have been appointed.
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Rumours, Resignations And Uncertainty
The uncertainty deepened further on Monday when senior Trinamool leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy announced his resignation from both Parliament and the party, becoming one of the highest-profile exits since the crisis began. His departure has intensified speculation that more MPs could follow if the leadership fails to contain the rebellion.
In a statement, Roy said: “In the recently held election to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, the people have given huge mandate in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party for the first time in the history of the state to put an end to 15-year anarchical rule of the Trinamool Congress arising out of widespread unbridled corruption, atrocities committed against women, abysmal failure in the field of health, education, industry, law and order, employment, etc.”
“In respectful acceptance of this historic verdict of the people, I have resigned today from the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) as a member and also from the primary membership of the All India Trinamool Congress,” he added.
For now, the most consequential question remains unanswered: are the dissident MPs merely exerting pressure on the leadership, or are they preparing to formally break away?
About the Author
Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University’s Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, …Read More
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