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Mamata Banerjee’s Delhi visit comes days after 60 of the party’s 80 MLAs backed expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee as the LoP in Assembly, dealing a major blow toTMC leadership.
In Photo: Abhishek Banerjee, Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal In Delhi.
The crisis within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) showed no sign of easing on Sunday as party chief Mamata Banerjee arrived in Delhi amid growing concerns that the rebellion which rocked the West Bengal Assembly could spread to Parliament.
The former West Bengal chief minister reached the national capital ahead of Monday’s INDIA bloc meeting, even as speculation intensified that a section of TMC MPs in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha may be considering a move similar to that made by rebel MLAs in the state Assembly.
The development comes days after around 60 of the party’s 80 MLAs backed expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, dealing a major blow to the TMC leadership.
Mamata trying hard to prevent party split
According to party sources, efforts are underway to replicate the Assembly model in Parliament by forming a separate group within the party’s parliamentary wing and electing new leadership.
The TMC leadership is understood to be making a last-minute attempt to prevent a split, although several MPs are reportedly not in contact with the party leadership.
Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray said the process had already begun in the Lok Sabha.
“There is a possibility and the process has already started as far as the Lok Sabha is concerned. What has happened in the West Bengal Assembly will be repeated in Lok Sabha so far as our party is concerned,” he told. He said a similar process had not yet begun in the Rajya Sabha but suggested it could happen later.
“The process was completed in the Assembly and has begun in the Lok Sabha. So, naturally, the phenomenon will follow in the Rajya Sabha as well. But it has not started yet,” he said.
Mamata meets Kejriwal
Soon after arriving in Delhi, Mamata Banerjee met Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal. She was accompanied by her nephew and TMC’s second-in-command Abhishek Banerjee. He has come under criticism from rebel MLAs who have elected their own legislature party leadership.
The TMC said Mamata and Abhishek held an extensive discussion with Kejriwal on future political strategy. “When the people of India unite, no force on earth can stop their march towards justice, dignity and a better future in 2029,” the party said.
The meeting assumes significance as Mamata seeks to revive the INDIA bloc, despite having maintained a distance from the alliance in the past.
Numbers game dominates discussions
It remains unclear whether two-thirds of the TMC’s Lok Sabha MPs are ready to break away from the party.
A senior party leader admitted that some MPs could be planning a move but expressed uncertainty about the numbers. “A handful of our MPs are up to something, but I don’t know whether they have the support of 19 MPs,” the leader said.
The TMC currently has 28 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 13 in the Rajya Sabha.
Party leaders fear that some MPs could make a move on Monday, coinciding with the INDIA bloc meeting scheduled to begin at noon. Sources said a section of MPs may approach Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The rebel camp is reportedly confident that 20 MPs are supporting them.
However, leaders close to Mamata Banerjee maintain that at least 16 Lok Sabha MPs remain loyal to her. If that assessment proves correct, the dissidents would fall short of the two-thirds strength required to avoid provisions of the anti-defection law.
TMC sources said Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and some other MPs were already in touch with the Speaker.
Mixed signals from party leaders
Sources indicated that some Rajya Sabha MPs are also unhappy with the party leadership. Like the rebel MLAs, a section of MPs is believed to be dissatisfied with Abhishek Banerjee’s growing influence within the organisation.
While Sukhendu Sekhar Ray warned that the Assembly developments could be repeated in Parliament, another senior leader sought to downplay the crisis. TMC MP Sougata Roy, however, described the Assembly setback as temporary and rejected suggestions that the party was nearing collapse.
“The BJP may try an operation in the TMC’s Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha wings, similar to what happened in the West Bengal Assembly. But Mamata Banerjee has fought bigger battles and will bounce back,” he said.
About the Author
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen…Read More
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