TMC Crisis Deepens: Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar Leads MP Rebellion in Delhi

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is currently grappling with a severe internal crisis following its recent defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections. Within just one month of being ousted from power in the state, the party's internal structure has undergone a dramatic and turbulent transformation. The TMC legislative party has already witnessed a significant split, with 58 MLAs forming a separate group under the leadership of Ritabrata Banerjee. This breakaway faction has notably received formal recognition from the Speaker, marking a substantial blow to the party's unity and the authority of its top leadership.

Rebellion Spreads to Lok Sabha MPs

Following the fragmentation of the MLA group, the threat of a split has now extended to the party's Lok Sabha members. A similar pattern of dissent is emerging in the lower house of Parliament. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, a prominent MP from Barasat, has openly raised the banner of revolt. She has already resigned from all her party positions, signaling a clear break from the current leadership. Sources indicate that much like Ritabrata Banerjee's efforts in the state assembly, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar is actively working to consolidate and unite other disgruntled Lok Sabha MPs. Delhi has become the central hub for these activities, and the political landscape of Bengal is expected to reflect these shifts in the national capital over the next few days.

Abhishek Banerjee Initiates Damage Control

As the crowd of Trinamool MPs continues to grow in Delhi, the party's top brass has moved into high gear. Abhishek Banerjee arrived in the capital on Saturday, reaching a day ahead of his original schedule. This early arrival has sparked intense speculation that he's urgently trying to reach out to and pacify the rebel MPs. Mamata Banerjee is also expected to arrive in Delhi on Sunday. Their visit coincides with the scheduled India Alliance meeting on June 8. However, reports suggest that a faction of rebel MPs might use this opportunity to meet with the Lok Sabha Speaker on the same day, potentially launching what is being whispered as 'Operation Lutyens' to challenge the party's internal hierarchy.

Internal Grievances and Celebrity MPs

The list of disgruntled members appears to be growing. While Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar has been vocal, other MPs are expressing their dissatisfaction through various channels. Sources reveal a tense interaction involving Derek O'Brien and MP Jagdish Basunia. Derek reportedly questioned Basunia's absence from a meeting called by Mamata Banerjee. Although Basunia cited his son's illness and hospitalization as the reason, he was allegedly asked to provide proof. This led to Basunia having to send a photograph of his son in a hospital bed, an incident that has reportedly left him deeply offended. Plus, there are rumors of another MP being in contact with the BJP, although the BJP has officially denied any involvement in these internal TMC developments.

The Stance of Yusuf Pathan and Others

The crisis also involves high-profile celebrity MPs. Names like Dev, Rachana, Yusuf Pathan, and June Malia are being mentioned as individuals who are increasing their distance from the party. While Sayani Ghosh's position remains a subject of discussion, others like Nayna Banerjee, wife of Sudip Banerjee, appear to remain loyal to Mamata Banerjee. However, the situation is complicated by the fact that Sudip Banerjee was replaced by Abhishek Banerjee as the party leader in the Lok Sabha, while a significant point of contention involves former cricketer and MP Yusuf Pathan. Reports suggest that Mamata Banerjee asked Pathan to resign from his current post to contest from Baharampur, but he has reportedly refused. Pathan maintains that the people of Baharampur elected him and he has only served 2 years of his term. While there were rumors of Sourav Ganguly mediating in this matter, Ganguly has denied such reports. The rebel group is currently moving cautiously to avoid the anti-defection law, waiting to gather sufficient numbers before formally writing to the Speaker to remove Abhishek Banerjee from his position as the party leader.