The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is facing one of its most severe political crises in recent times, as internal dissent deepens following electoral setbacks in the West Bengal Assembly elections. In a major development, South Kolkata MP Mala Roy, a veteran leader and a key face of the party in the city, is set to join the rebel bloc aligned with the NDA. Her move comes at a time when the party is already reeling from losses in its traditional strongholds, including a significant defeat in Bhabanipur — Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s home turf — as well as the adjacent Rashbehari Assembly seat.
Sources indicate that Mala travelled to New Delhi on Tuesday with her family and is expected to complete formalities of aligning with the rebel camp by Wednesday.
Mala’s decision has surprised political circles, particularly because she was widely seen as a loyalist with deep roots in South Kolkata’s political and municipal landscape. A former Chairperson of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, her influence at the grassroots level is considered substantial.
Her shift comes amid a broader churn within the TMC’s parliamentary ranks. Several MPs, including Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Saayoni Ghosh, Partha Bhowmick, and Yusuf Pathan, have reportedly distanced themselves from the party’s central leadership in recent days.
According to sources within the dissident camp, Roy’s inclusion significantly strengthens their numbers in the Lok Sabha. On Monday night, 20 MPs had already signed a letter addressed to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. With more leaders such as Saayoni Ghosh and Mitali Bag likely to join, the rebel faction is expected to gain more strength in the Lok Sabha.
Political analysts believe that if a senior leader like Mala formally breaks ranks, it could have far-reaching consequences for the TMC’s organisational structure, especially in Kolkata. The development is also likely to impact municipal politics in the city, where Mala’s influence has long been a key factor.
As the rebellion gathers momentum, senior leaders including Abhishek Banerjee, Mahua Moitra, Kalyan Banerjee, and Kirti Azad are increasingly finding themselves under pressure, with the party’s strength in the Lok Sabha potentially shrinking further.
Also read: TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev resigns
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