Saayoni Ghosh, Yusuf Pathan among 20 TMC rebel MPs as Mamata faces biggest crisis; Full list

TMC's troubles are mounting as 20 MPs, including Saayoni Ghosh, Yusuf Pathan and Shatrughan Sinha, are reportedly backing a rebel faction. Is Mamata Banerjee facing her biggest political challenge yet?

Kolkata: The crisis within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) intensified on Wednesday as reports suggested that 20 party MPs have aligned with a dissident faction challenging the leadership of party chief Mamata Banerjee. The development comes weeks after the party lost power in West Bengal and amid growing signs of internal unrest.

The latest political turmoil follows the resignations of senior leaders Sushmita Dev and Sukhendu Sekhar Roy from both the party and the Rajya Sabha, raising fresh concerns about the future of the TMC.

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List of MPs Linked to Rebel Camp

According to reports, the rebel faction includes several prominent Lok Sabha MPs:

• Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar (Barasat)
• Saayoni Ghosh (Jadavpur)
• Yusuf Pathan (Baharampur)
• Shatrughan Sinha (Asansol)
• Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia (Cooch Behar)
• Khalilur Rahaman (Jangipur)
• Abu Taher Khan (Murshidabad)
• Partha Bhowmick (Barrackpore)
• Bapi Halder (Mathurapur)
• Mala Roy (Kolkata Dakshin)
• Rachana Banerjee (Hooghly)
• Satabdi Roy (Birbhum)
• Asit Kumar Mal (Bolpur)
• Sharmila Sarkar (Bardhaman Purba)
• Arup Chakraborty (Bankura)
• June Malia (Medinipur)
• Kalipada Soren (Jhargram)
• Deepak Adhikari (Ghatal)
• Mitali Bag (Arambagh)
• Prasun Banerjee (Howrah)

The reported strength of the group has sparked speculation about a possible split within the party's parliamentary wing.

Resignations Add to Mamata’s Troubles

The rebellion gained momentum after Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev resigned from the TMC and Parliament. Her departure came days after veteran leader Sukhendu Sekhar Roy also quit, citing differences with the party leadership.

The back-to-back resignations have intensified pressure on Mamata Banerjee, who is facing one of the biggest political challenges of her career.

NDA Alignment Buzz Grows

Political speculation has increased following reports that members of the dissident camp held discussions with senior BJP leaders, including Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

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While no formal announcement has been made, the meetings have fuelled rumours that the rebel faction could eventually align with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Anti-Defection Law Key to Future Moves

Any attempt by rebel MPs to formally break away will be governed by the anti-defection law. Under current rules, at least two-thirds of a parliamentary party must support a merger to avoid disqualification. As a result, the strength of the dissident camp will play a crucial role in determining its next political move.

Rebellion Spreads to Bengal Assembly

The unrest is not limited to Parliament. In the West Bengal Assembly, expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee is leading a separate rebel faction that claims the support of 58 MLAs.

The parallel revolt has further deepened the uncertainty surrounding the future of the Trinamool Congress, with observers closely watching whether the party can contain the growing rebellion.