The internal crisis within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) intensified on Friday as the identities of 19 out of 20 dissident Members of Parliament (MPs) surfaced, signaling a major split in the party across both national and state politics. According to highly placed sources, a list of 20 dissident or defecting MPs was submitted to the Lok Sabha Speaker’s office on May 18. The rebel faction is reportedly being led by senior Barasat MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, a long-time associate of party chief Mamata Banerjee.

The list is said to include several close aides of Mamata Banerjee and TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, including Saayoni Ghosh, Rachana Roy, Mala Roy, Dipak Adhikari, and Partha Bhowmik.

Political storm and possible NDA alignment

The development has triggered a political storm, raising serious questions about the stability of the TMC leadership. Reports indicate that the dissident MPs have expressed their intent to distance themselves from the party and align with the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Parliament.

Observers have described the situation as one of the most severe crises faced by the party since its formation in 1998. The rebellion has escalated into a broader struggle over organisational control, legislative strength, and political legitimacy.

Pratima Mondal denies involvement

Adding to the controversy, the name of Jaynagar MP Pratima Mondal was reportedly included in the list submitted to the Speaker’s office. However, Mondal has strongly denied any involvement, calling the claims “completely false.”

“I am right here in Kolkata. I attended an Estimates Committee meeting in Delhi on June 4 and returned the same day. I have not been to Delhi since,” she said.
Challenging the dissident group, Mondal urged them to make the alleged signed letter public. “Why are they not releasing the document? Let people see whether my name is on it or not,” she added.

While acknowledging that she had brief discussions with some members of the group, Mondal said she did not find their proposed course of action appropriate and declined to join them.

At the same time, Mondal admitted that internal shortcomings within the party may have contributed to its recent electoral setback. “There were certainly some issues. That is why people did not support the Trinamool,” she noted.

She also revealed that she had suggested holding a meeting of MPs in Kolkata to address the party’s internal situation but refused to travel to Delhi for such discussions.

From Assembly rebellion to Parliamentary crisis

The crisis has unfolded rapidly over the past week. What began as dissent within the West Bengal Legislative Assembly soon spilled over into Parliament. Earlier, 58 TMC MLAs—later claimed by the rebel camp to have risen to 64—defied party directives by backing expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee instead of the official candidate Sovandeb Chattopadhyay for the post of Leader of the Opposition.

With the fallout from the MLA rebellion still ongoing, the reported defection of MPs in Delhi has significantly intensified pressure on the party’s top leadership, marking a critical juncture in the TMC’s political trajectory.

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