NEW DELHI: Over a month after facing a drubbing in the West Bengal polls, Trinamool Congress appears to be experiencing a second wave of mutiny, with several party MPs reportedly submitting a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressing their desire to support the BJP-led NDA.This comes days after Mamata Banerjee lost control over her party’s legislature wing, as 58 TMC MLAs broke ranks with the leadership and backed Ritabrata Banerjee for the post of leader of opposition in the West Bengal assembly, rejecting the party’s official nominee, Shovandeb Chattopadhyay.While the rebel parliamentarians allegedly hatched their plans in Delhi, Mamata was also in the national capital attending the INDIA bloc conclave aimed at forging opposition unity against the BJP.Here is what we know so far:Sukhendu Ray resignsThe chain of events began after veteran TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Shekhar Ray resigned from the party and stepped down as a member of the Upper House.Ray, among TMC’s most recognisable faces in Parliament, announced his decision in the national capital hours before a meeting of the INDIA bloc, attended by former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.In a statement, Ray cited what he described as rampant corruption in governance and the party organisation, and said public anger against the erstwhile TMC dispensation had reached alarming levels.“I had publicly spoken out on the RG Kar hospital issue. Since then, I was increasingly isolated within the party. My only fault was that I demanded an internal inquiry against certain police officers because I believed they had a major role in the destruction of evidence,” Ray said.“That was the turning point. I realised I would not remain in the party for long,” he added.TMC’s tally in the Rajya Sabha came down to 12 with Ray’s resignation.20 MPs huddle at BJP leader’s houseHours later, a group of dissident TMC MPs held a meeting at BJP leader Bhupender Yadav’s residence in Delhi.A photograph purportedly from the meeting that circulated online showed Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Shekhar Ray, along with MPs Abu Taher, Asit Mal, Arup Chakraborty, Kalipada Soren, Jagadish Basunia, Prasun Banerjee, Sharmila Sarkar and Satabdi Roy.Adding fuel to the speculation was the presence of West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari at Yadav’s residence.Rebel MPs write to Lok Sabha SpeakerLater in the day, Lok Sabha MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said the rebel faction had decided to write to Speaker Om Birla declaring support for the NDA. According to sources, the rebel MPs have chosen not to immediately resign from TMC or join BJP. Instead, they intend to function as a separate bloc supporting the NDA, a strategy designed to shield them from the anti-defection law.A copy of the letter shared by party sources reportedly carried a stamp of receipt from the Speaker’s office dated May 29.Speaking to PTI over the phone, Ghosh Dastidar said, “Nearly twenty TMC MPs, including me, have decided to write to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and formally support the NDA.”Dissident MPs intend to argue before the Speaker that Ghosh Dastidar continues to be the chief whip of the party in the Lok Sabha.“We have accepted the people’s verdict and believe that our future political course should be aligned with the NDA,” Ghosh Dastidar said.A TMC leader, however, said the party had communicated its decision to remove her as chief whip and appoint Kalyan Banerjee through an official letter to the Lok Sabha Secretariat dated May 20, signed by TMC Parliamentary Party chairperson Mamata Banerjee.‘Let’s see what big heroes you are’Meanwhile, TMC MP Kirti Azad accused BJP of exaggerating the number of MPs involved and claimed that only 13 MPs attended the meeting at Bhupender Yadav’s residence.“The fake and fabricated narrative of BJP’s dirty tricks department is claiming 20 MPs. There were 13 MPs — 12 from Lok Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha — who attended the meeting at Bhupender Yadav’s house. No one else has signed on the dotted line apart from these,” Azad wrote in a post on X.TMC MP Sougata Roy also dismissed suggestions of an exodus.“I have heard that some MPs held a separate meeting last night. Only they can say what transpired in the meeting. I was not contacted by them,” he said.Asked about reports of attempts by BJP to reach out to TMC MPs, Roy said he had been contacted but declined the offer.“I told them I will remain with TMC. At this age, it won’t be possible for me to change camp,” the 78-year-old four-term MP told PTI.Ray, who attended the meeting at Yadav’s residence, resigned from the Rajya Sabha as well as the primary membership of the party and issued a statement accusing TMC of “15 years of anarchical rule” before BJP came to power in the state.His resignation from the Rajya Sabha has been accepted by Chairman C P Radhakrishnan.“I have met the Rajya Sabha chairman and submitted my resignation. I have conveyed my decision to resign from the party through WhatsApp and email to Mamata Banerjee,” Ray told reporters.“I had my tenure till 2029 in the Rajya Sabha, but I have resigned on principle from the party as it would be difficult for me to continue,” he said.Mahua Moitra also lashed out at the rebel MPs, saying their electoral victories were secured on the strength of the Trinamool Congress mandate.“MPs won in 2024 on TMC ticket. Mandate was NOT for NDA,” Moitra said in a post on X.Questioning the legitimacy of any attempt to switch sides while retaining their seats, she challenged the rebel MPs to resign and contest fresh elections.“All the greedy, self-serving traitors with yellow-stained pants can please join BJP now — resign your seats and contest on a BJP ticket,” she remarked.Moitra further threw down the gauntlet to the dissidents, saying, “Let’s see what big heroes you are.”The number gameTMC currently has 28 Lok Sabha MPs, with one vacancy following the death of Basirhat MP Haji Nurul Islam. The support of 20 MPs would comfortably cross the two-thirds threshold required to avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law.A TMC leader, however, reiterated that even securing that number would not automatically enable the rebel faction to function as a separate parliamentary group.“As per the law, even if two-thirds of MPs wish to leave a party, the only choice they have is to merge with another political party. There is no provision for a separate group,” the leader said.
