TMC Split: 20 of 28 Lok Sabha MPs Break Away, Back NDA

Kolkata: In a dramatic blow to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, twenty of the party's twenty-eight Lok Sabha MPs have announced their decision to align with the NDA, effectively splitting the party's parliamentary group.

The revolt was led by senior TMC leader Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar. The dissidents said they would shortly write to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla formally expressing their intent to join the NDA. "Respecting the mandate of the people, we believe it is appropriate to align our future political path with the NDA," Ghosh Dastidar told reporters.

Rebel TMC MP Sharmila Sarkar confirmed that the breakaway group would function as a separate bloc in the Lok Sabha, with Kakoli Ghosh serving as Chief Whip and Shatabdi Roy as Deputy Leader.

Anti-Defection Law Hurdle Cleared

The dissidents have moved carefully, ensuring they have the required two-thirds majority of the party's Lok Sabha strength — the precise threshold needed to circumvent the anti-defection law. Political observers have drawn parallels with the Shiv Sena split, noting that a similar playbook appears to be unfolding in Delhi to wrest control of the Trinamool Congress.

Bengal Assembly Rebellion Preceded the Delhi Move

The parliamentary split follows an earlier rebellion in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, where 58 MLAs led by expelled TMC leader Ritabrata Banerjee had already formed a dissident bloc, claiming to be the "real Trinamool." The Assembly Speaker had recognised Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of Opposition and handed over the party office in the legislature to the rebel group.

The root of the Bengal assembly rift was Mamata's decision to appoint Shobhandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of Opposition, which triggered the initial backlash.

Timed to Maximum Effect

The announcement came in particularly striking circumstances — the rebel MPs finalised their move to the NDA at a meeting held at BJP leader Bhupender Yadav's residence in Delhi, even as Mamata Banerjee was attending a nearby INDIA alliance meeting, reportedly attempting to contain the rebellion. The split was declared while she was still in the same city.