TMC crisis deepens: 14 rebel MLAs meet Suvendu Adhikari, discuss exit as Mamata attends key INDIA bloc meet

The Trinamool Congress faces a deepening crisis as at least 14 Lok Sabha members met in Delhi to discuss defecting from the party. This development occurred on the same day party chief Mamata Banerjee attended a key meeting of the INDIA bloc alliance. The rebel lawmakers met with Union minister Bhupender Yadav, reportedly discussing their grievances about being "badly treated by the TMC brass."

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In the first meeting, the CM quipped that all of you are senior MPs but you have been badly treated by the TMC brass.

Following the meeting, Barasat MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar announced that the group had decided to support the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for "Bengal's development." She stated they would formally inform Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and seek separate seating arrangements as a distinct bloc. To avoid anti-defection proceedings, the rebels require the support of at least 19 of the TMC's 28 Lok Sabha members.

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Nearly 20 TMC MPs, including me, have decided to support the NDA for Bengal’s development. We have decided to write to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and formally support the NDA.

This internal turmoil follows veteran leader Sukhendu Sekhar Ray's resignation from the Rajya Sabha, citing "unbridled corruption" and "anarchical rule" within the party. The TMC's delegation in the West Bengal assembly has also seen a split, with 58 lawmakers backing rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee for the Leader of the Opposition position.

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The letter has already reached the speaker. We have sought separate seating arrangements as a separate bloc.