Rebel TMC MPs to merge with Nationalist Citizens Party, to back NDA

The latest political twist comes hours after the rebel faction regrouped at Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's residence in Delhi following a meeting with Union Minister Bhupender Yadav. According to sources, the rebel TMC MPs opted to associate themselves with the party due to legal complications in forming a separate parliamentary bloc.

In Short

• Development comes after rebel MPs meet Lok Sabha Speaker, Bhupendra Yadav
• TMC rebels receive major boost after Sudip Bandyopadhyay's entry
• Court will decide which is the real TMC, says rebel MP Bandyopadhyay

The crisis within the Trinamool Congress deepened on Sunday after 20 rebel MPs decided to merge their faction with a little-known party, the Nationalist Citizens Party of India, and extend support to the NDA.

The rebel MPs met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and submitted a letter announcing their decision to merge with the party and extend support to the BJP-led alliance. According to sources, the rebel TMC MPs opted to associate themselves with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India due to legal complications in forming a separate parliamentary bloc.

“We have joined the Nationalist Citizens Party. It is a recognised regional party. We have merged with it. It will be decided in court which is the real TMC,” said TMC rebel MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay.

The latest political development comes hours after the rebel faction regrouped at the Speaker's residence in New Delhi following a meeting with Union Minister Bhupender Yadav.

Subsequently, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee wrote to the Lok Sabha Speaker, urging him to treat the TMC as a single political party and not accord recognition or facilities to any separate faction.

Earlier, these meetings were being seen as an indication that the rebel MPs would seek recognition as the “real TMC” in Parliament.

TOP MAMATA AIDE JOINS REBELS

Meanwhile, the rebel faction received a significant boost after Bandyopadhyay, a close confidant of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, expressed support for the group following meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister Bhupender Yadav on Saturday.

Bandyopadhyay said he shifted to the dissident camp following an appeal from rebel MPs and MLAs. The former Union Minister is expected to meet West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari soon, according to a PTI report.

“Most of the MPs and MLAs wanted this to be a successful initiative. They wanted the party to continue under the guidance of Mamata Banerjee, with her playing a role similar to that of a chief advisor and party leader. Their appeal genuinely touched me,” he said.

TMC REJIGS PARTY STRUCTURE

Hours after Bandyopadhyay's defection, the TMC carried out a fresh organisational reshuffle, removing rebels Sayoni Ghosh, Mala Roy and Bandyopadhyay from key party positions.

Arnab Banerjee was appointed president of the Trinamool Youth Congress, replacing Ghosh, while Kaliganj MLA Alifa Ahmed replaced Roy as head of the party’s women’s wing.

In another significant change, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh was named president of the party’s North Kolkata organisational district, replacing Bandyopadhyay.

The party also named MP Saugata Roy as chief adviser to its Lok Sabha wing, which now comprises MPs still loyal to Mamata Banerjee.

TMC CRISIS REVISITED

The TMC has been grappling with a major internal rebellion among its legislators and parliamentarians following its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections. The party lost power in Bengal after 15 years, winning just 80 of the 294 seats in the Assembly.

Weeks after the loss, expelled TMC MLAs Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha submitted a letter claiming the support of 60 legislators while reaffirming Mamata Banerjee as the party’s leader.

The letter, signed by 58 MLAs, also proposed Ritabrata’s name for the post of Leader of the Opposition.

The move was widely viewed as an attempt to isolate Abhishek, whom Ritabrata has repeatedly accused of running the party like a corporate organisation rather than a political movement.

Days later, TMC Lok Sabha MPs, led by Chief Whip Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, wrote to the Speaker declaring support for the BJP-led NDA, triggering a split in the party’s parliamentary unit. Ghosh Dastidar said the decision to break away was taken after consultations with fellow MPs.

- Ends