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Sudip Bandyopadhyay joins TMC rebel camp
Kolkata: In a significant setback for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, veteran Sudip Bandyopadhyay on Saturday joined the rebel faction within the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and met Union Minister Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi alongside dissident MP Satabdi Roy.
The development marks a major escalation in the ongoing rebellion within the TMC, with the dissident group claiming the support of 19 Lok Sabha MPs. The rebel lawmakers are preparing to meet Om Birla on Monday to seek recognition as a separate parliamentary bloc and request seating alongside members of the BJP-led NDA in Parliament.
Rebels Prepare to Stake Claim
Dissident MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia said the group has already submitted a representation to the Lok Sabha Speaker and will formally press its claim next week.
"We have submitted the letter. On Monday, we will approach the Speaker and seek recognition as the real TMC parliamentary group," Basunia said.
According to rebel leaders, the signature collection process began on June 8, and 19 MPs have endorsed the representation. Nearly 20 MPs are expected to assemble in Delhi ahead of Monday's meeting to discuss their future strategy.
TMC Rejects Rebel Claims
The ruling TMC dismissed the dissidents' move, arguing that it lacks constitutional validity.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra cited the Ninety-first Amendment of the Constitution of India, which abolished provisions allowing splits within political parties.
In a post on X, Moitra asserted that lawmakers cannot form a separate bloc merely based on numbers and would need to merge with another political party under the anti-defection law.
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh also questioned the authenticity of the signatures being circulated online and demanded verification by the Lok Sabha Secretariat.
Deepening Organisational Turmoil
The latest rebellion comes amid what many observers describe as the TMC's most serious organisational crisis in recent years. Internal discontent, which emerged after the party's setbacks in West Bengal politics, has now spilled over into Parliament.
A purported list of 19 TMC Lok Sabha MPs supporting the rebel camp has surfaced on social media, although the alleged letter submitted to the Speaker has not been made public.
Sources close to the dissident faction claim the MPs have informed the Speaker about plans to form a separate parliamentary bloc under Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar while extending support to the BJP-led NDA without formally merging with the BJP.
BJP Accused of 'Operation Lotus'
Senior TMC MP Kirti Azad accused the BJP of attempting to engineer defections through "Operation Lotus," alleging a coordinated effort to weaken the party.
In a post on X, Azad claimed the operation was being conducted under the guidance of Amit Shah and cited meetings involving rebel MPs, BJP leaders, and Union ministers as evidence of an organised attempt to split the TMC.
The BJP has not officially responded to the latest allegations.
Political Significance
If the rebel group succeeds in securing recognition from the Speaker, it could trigger a major realignment within West Bengal politics and significantly weaken the parliamentary strength of the TMC. However, constitutional and anti-defection provisions are likely to become central to any decision regarding the dissidents' status in Parliament.
All eyes are now on Monday's meeting with Speaker Om Birla, which could determine the next phase of one of the most serious internal challenges faced by Mamata Banerjee's party.
