Amajor political crisis is unfolding for Mamata Banerjee, as internal divisions within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) deepen. What began as a rebellion in the West Bengal Assembly is now raising concerns about a possible split in the party’s parliamentary ranks as well.
According to a PTI report, a section of TMC MPs in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha may be considering a move similar to that made by rebel MLAs in the state. The development comes after nearly 60 of the party’s 80 MLAs backed expelled leader Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.
Is the rebellion spreading beyond West Bengal?
Senior TMC leader Sukhendu Sekhar Roy has warned that the crisis could soon reach Parliament. He said such a large-scale shift by MLAs is unprecedented and hinted that a similar reaction may follow among MPs.
However, party MP Sougata Roy dismissed fears of a major collapse. He described the situation as a temporary setback and alleged that the BJP could attempt a similar strategy in Parliament. He also expressed confidence that Mamata Banerjee would overcome the crisis.
What is causing dissent within TMC?
The current situation is being seen as one of the biggest internal challenges faced by Mamata Banerjee since she founded the party in 1998. Several leaders, including Barasat MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, have raised concerns over the party’s functioning.
At the same time, differences appear to exist over the influence of Abhishek Banerjee within the party. Despite this, many rebel MLAs continue to show loyalty to Mamata.
Do rebels still support Mamata Banerjee?
Interestingly, many rebel MLAs have made it clear that they still consider Mamata Banerjee their supreme leader. When a proposal was floated to make her a “chief adviser,” several MLAs opposed it.
Rebel leaders like Gulshan Mullick and Sangeeta Roy Basunia stated that the party should continue under her leadership. Their statements suggest that while there is internal disagreement, Mamata’s authority remains largely intact.
Meanwhile, TMC has started damage control. Mamata Banerjee has reportedly reached out to MLAs and MPs to reopen communication with dissenters. The party has also tasked key MPs to prevent the rebellion from spreading to Delhi.
