The internal crisis within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) appeared to deepen on Sunday, with dissident Lok Sabha MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar claiming that the strength of the rebel camp had risen to 22 MPs, up from 20 earlier, ahead of a crucial meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
The dissident MPs are scheduled to meet Birla in New Delhi on Monday to seek recognition as a separate bloc in the Lok Sabha, a move that could have significant implications for both the TMC and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Speaking to reporters at Kolkata's Dum Dum airport before departing for Delhi, Ghosh Dastidar said the group now had the support of 22 MPs.
“We are going to Delhi for the meeting. Right now we have 22 MPs with us. The Speaker has given us time. We will meet him and demand the formation of a separate block,” she said.
The Barasat MP declined to reveal the identities of the two additional parliamentarians, saying their names would be disclosed at an appropriate time. She, however, claimed that more MPs unhappy with the political situation in West Bengal had been in touch with the dissident camp.
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Anti-defection law test
The numbers are crucial because the rebel faction requires the backing of at least two-thirds of the TMC's 28 Lok Sabha MPs to avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law. If the claim of support from 22 MPs holds, the group would comfortably cross that threshold.
The rebellion first surfaced publicly last week when Ghosh Dastidar claimed that around 20 TMC MPs were prepared to support the Centre on key issues. A document bearing the signatures of 19 MPs subsequently surfaced, lending weight to the claim.
Among those reportedly associated with the group are Shatabdi Roy, Bapi Halder, Sharmila Sarkar, Prasoon Bandyopadhyay, Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, Asit Mal, Arup Chakraborty, Dev, Jun Malia, Partha Bhowmick, Yusuf Pathan, Mala Roy and several others. Sources also indicated that senior MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay had aligned with the faction.
Attention has now shifted to MPs who have not featured in the alleged signature list, including Abhishek Banerjee, Kalyan Banerjee, Saugata Roy, Mahua Moitra, Kirti Azad, Shatrughan Sinha, Pratima Mondal and Sajda Ahmed.
The Speaker's response to the dissidents' demand for separate bloc status is expected to shape the next phase of the political turmoil confronting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party.
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