TMC Leaders Clash Over Alleged Defections Amid Political Turmoil
Tensions within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have escalated as rebel MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar claims that nearly 20 MPs are attempting to ally with the NDA. Mahua Moitra has condemned these MPs as greedy traitors, while senior MP Sougata Roy has rejected offers to switch parties. This internal strife comes amid significant political pressure following recent assembly election results, where the BJP made substantial gains. As TMC leadership meets with allies from the INDIA bloc, the party faces challenges that could reshape its future. Read on for a detailed analysis of the unfolding situation.
Jun 8, 2026, 19:43 IST
TMC's Internal Strife Unfolds
Following claims by rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar that she and nearly 20 other MPs are seeking to ally with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Mahua Moitra labeled these MPs as greedy traitors. Dastidar asserted on Monday that a faction of about 20 TMC MPs expressed their desire to join the NDA and submitted a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. She hinted that this division stemmed from the outcomes of the recent assembly elections.
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In response, Moitra remarked that these MPs had previously won their seats on TMC tickets and that the NDA had not received a mandate. She provocatively stated that all the greedy traitors clad in yellow pants could join the BJP, vacate their seats, and contest elections under BJP tickets. She challenged them to prove their worth as heroes.
Meanwhile, senior TMC MP Sougata Roy confirmed on Monday that he rejected an offer from the BJP to switch parties, emphasizing his commitment to the party under whose symbol he was elected. He also credited the opposition INDIA bloc for supporting TMC during these challenging times. Roy told a news agency that he had indeed received a proposal to join the BJP but firmly declined, stating he would remain with the party that helped him win.
Roy's comments came on a day when TMC leadership was meeting with allies from the INDIA bloc in Delhi, amidst a backdrop of significant defections, including the resignation of a Rajya Sabha MP and a group of Lok Sabha members meeting with BJP's West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. He noted that the party is under constant pressure, and support from allies would bolster its position. He remarked that TMC has been persistently targeted and attacked, and backing from other parties would strengthen TMC's resolve.
As evidence of this support, Roy referenced the recent attack on TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur, highlighting the condemnation from Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. This loyalty stands in stark contrast to the turmoil following TMC's significant defeat in the assembly elections, where the BJP secured 208 out of 294 seats, ending Mamata Banerjee's long-standing tenure as Chief Minister since 2011.
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When asked about the potential for a split within TMC, the 76-year-old Roy stated that the rebellion comes from those who engage in politics but lack mental fortitude. He referenced the assembly election defeat, noting that some change their attitudes when circumstances worsen. When questioned about the possibility of a rebel faction seizing the party's name and symbol, he replied that the election symbol is granted by the Election Commission and that such a situation has not yet arisen.