The great TMC split: How a rebellion in Bengal could reshape Parliament's power arithmetic
Times of India | 9 June 2026
KOLKATA: A full-blown revolt inside the Trinamool Congress is threatening to alter the balance of power in Parliament, with rebel MPs claiming the support of 20 Lok Sabha members and seeking recognition as a separate bloc that would extend support to the BJP-led NDA.
If the numbers hold, the breakaway faction would comfortably cross the two-thirds threshold required to escape disqualification under anti-defection laws, delivering the biggest blow to Mamata Banerjee since she founded the party in 1998. The move could also trigger a battle over the party's identity, symbol and parliamentary strength.
The rebellion erupted while Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee were in New Delhi for an INDIA bloc meeting, where opposition unity against the BJP was on the agenda. By Monday evening, the leadership's efforts to prevent a split appeared to be faltering, with only a handful of MPs publicly standing with the party high command and some others reportedly undecided.
At the centre of the revolt is MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who claimed that 20 MPs had backed a letter submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking recognition of a separate parliamentary group. The rebels insist they are not joining the BJP but are willing to support the NDA from outside.
Their move carries significance beyond Bengal. The NDA currently enjoys a comfortable majority in the Lok Sabha with 292 seats, but remains short of the two-thirds mark needed for certain legislative and constitutional measures. Support from a sizeable TMC breakaway group would push the alliance past the 300-seat mark, strengthening its parliamentary position on contentious legislation.
The rebellion has also opened a legal and procedural battle. Ghosh Dastidar signed the letter as TMC's chief whip, despite having been replaced more than two weeks ago. She maintains that the change is invalid because it was made while Parliament was not in session. The Mamata-Abhishek camp has rejected the claim, arguing that she had already resigned from party posts and questioning whether the rebels actually command the numbers they claim.
Senior TMC leader Kirti Azad challenged the rebels to prove their strength, asking where the purported signatures of all 20 MPs were. Rebel leaders responded that 18 MPs had signed physically while two had endorsed the move online. However, uncertainty remains over whether every MP counted by the rebels is prepared to publicly back the split.
Among those reportedly linked to the faction, some have adopted a cautious stance. Jaynagar MP Pratima Mondal stopped short of endorsing the rebellion, saying she remained committed to the voters who elected her and had not been consulted about the reasons behind the proposed split.
Sources suggest that several rebel MPs, particularly those representing minority-dominated constituencies, remain reluctant to formally join the BJP. Many are believed to be seeking assurances regarding future electoral prospects and personal security before taking any decisive step.
Ghosh Dastidar sought to portray the move as a pragmatic decision rather than ideological defection. According to her, the rebels want to work with the NDA to expedite development projects and support issues related to national security and governance. The faction has informed the Speaker of its position and says it will await his decision before determining its next course of action.
The Speaker's office had not officially confirmed receiving the letter by Monday evening, with sources indicating that Birla was away on an official tour.
Meanwhile, TMC loyalists have reacted sharply. MP Mahua Moitra accused the rebels of betraying the mandate they received on a TMC ticket and demanded that they resign and seek re-election under a new political banner.
The turmoil is no longer confined to the Lok Sabha. The crisis deepened further when veteran leader Sukhendu Sekhar Ray resigned from the Rajya Sabha and quit the party, reducing TMC's strength in the Upper House. Reports also suggest that another Rajya Sabha MP may be weighing a similar move, raising fears that the rebellion could spread beyond the lower chamber.
For Mamata Banerjee, the revolt represents the most serious internal challenge in the party's 28-year history. For Parliament, it could redraw power equations in Delhi. The key question now is whether the rebels can prove they have crossed the crucial two-thirds mark — a number that could determine not only the future of TMC but also the NDA's legislative muscle in the years ahead.