The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has nominated its national general secretary and Lok Sabha MP, Abhishek Banerjee, to represent the party in the all-party parliamentary delegation for Operation Sindoor. This decision comes after a direct conversation between Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, following controversy over the Centre’s earlier selection of TMC’s representative without party consultation.

Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian government in response to the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which claimed 26 lives. The government initiated a diplomatic outreach, sending seven all-party delegations to over 30 countries and the European Union headquarters in Brussels, with the aim of presenting India’s firm stance on zero-tolerance towards terrorism and countering global misinformation.

Yusuf Pathan was Originally Chosen

Initially, the Centre had named cricketer-turned-politician Yusuf Pathan, a first-time TMC MP, as part of the delegation. However, TMC withdrew his name, stating that the party had not been consulted. Mamata Banerjee asserted that the Centre cannot unilaterally decide who will represent each party, emphasising the need for wider deliberations and consensus among all political parties, especially the opposition. She clarified that TMC was not boycotting the diplomatic mission but insisted that the party must be formally consulted before nominating its representative.

After Rijiju reached out to Mamata Banerjee, she nominated Abhishek Banerjee, who is widely regarded as the party’s second-in-command. TMC announced the decision on X, stating that Abhishek’s inclusion would “reflect Bengal’s firm stand against terror and strengthen India’s collective voice on the global stage”. Abhishek Banerjee himself has advocated for a more inclusive approach, suggesting that, along with parliamentarians, the families of martyrs and survivors or the officers who led Operation Sindoor should also be part of such delegations, as they can best represent the nation’s sacrifices and resilience.

The all-party delegations include 51 political leaders, former ministers, and eight former ambassadors. They will engage with international partners to highlight India’s counterterrorism efforts and present a unified national stance. Other prominent leaders in these delegations include Baijayant Panda and Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP), Shashi Tharoor (Congress), Kanimozhi Karunanidhi (DMK), and Supriya Sule (NCP-SP), among others.

Meanwhile, TMC is also sending a separate five-member delegation to Jammu and Kashmir to express solidarity with those affected by cross-border attacks. This team, led by Manas Ranjan Bhunia, includes Derek O’Brien, Sagarika Ghose, Md Nadimul Haque, and Mamata Thakur, and will visit Srinagar, Poonch, and Rajouri.