TMC faces rebellion as MPs cozy up to BJP; Shatrughan Sinha's silence puzzles party

Weeks after a significant electoral setback and internal divisions, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal faces a new challenge as several Members of Parliament have reportedly begun aligning with the opposition BJP. The rebellion, spearheaded by MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, became public after she informed Speaker Om Birla that 20 of the TMC's 28 MPs intend to join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

While Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar asserts the support of 20 rebel MPs, at least 14 were photographed at a meeting hosted by Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav in New Delhi. Among those present were MPs Prasun Banerjee, Anup Chakraborty, Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, Asit Kumar Mal, Satabdi Roy, Kalipada Soren, and Sharmila Sarkar. Meanwhile, the Mamata Banerjee-led faction retains the support of loyalists including Kirti Azad, Mahua Moitra, and Saugata Roy, though the political stance of several others remains uncertain.

The most puzzling aspect for the TMC leadership is the conspicuous silence of veteran Bollywood actor and Asansol MP Shatrughan Sinha. Known for his outspoken nature and trademark catchphrase "Khamosh!" (Silence!), Sinha has remained quiet amidst the party's most significant challenge in its 25-year history. Although his name was not on Kakoli's list of 20 rebels, he has not publicly supported Mamata's camp either.

Shatrughan Sinha shares a political trajectory similar to his party colleague Kirti Azad, having switched between the BJP and Congress before joining the TMC. Both leaders shifted their political base from Bihar to Delhi, leveraging the TMC's appeal to a significant migrant voter base. While TMC has other celebrity MPs like Saayoni Ghosh, who is likely to remain loyal, and Deepak Adhikari (Dev), who has reportedly sided with the rebels, Shatrughan Sinha's stance remains a point of intrigue.

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Khamosh!