TMC Rebel MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar Denies Allegations of Writing to CM

Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, a rebel MP from the Trinamool Congress, has denied allegations of writing to the West Bengal Chief Minister regarding an investigation into Imran's alleged connections with extremist groups. Amidst claims of national security concerns and internal party strife, Dastidar asserts she has no ties to the circulating rumors. The TMC is currently facing significant challenges, with rebellions in both the Lok Sabha and the West Bengal Assembly, as leaders like Ritabrata Banerjee also emerge as key figures in the dissent. This situation highlights the ongoing turmoil within Mamata Banerjee's party.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 12, 2026, 15:50 IST

Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar Refutes Claims of Letter to CM

Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, a rebel MP from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), firmly denied on Friday that she had sent any correspondence to the Chief Minister of West Bengal regarding an investigation into former Rajya Sabha member Imran. Allegations had surfaced suggesting that Imran had ties with extremist groups operating in Bangladesh. In a statement on social media, she asserted, "I have not written any letter to the honorable Chief Minister of West Bengal on any issue, contrary to what has been reported in the media. I completely deny any connection to this news." Previously, reports indicated that Dastidar had written to officials and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, claiming that Imran, who was nominated to the upper house with the support of the former TMC government, had links to extremist organizations.

Concerns Over National Security

The letter reportedly expressed concerns regarding the allocation of land requested by the Indian Army and the Border Security Force (BSF) in strategically sensitive areas along West Bengal's international border, including the Siliguri Corridor, also known as the 'Chicken's Neck.' These decisions warrant careful scrutiny from a national security perspective. Notably, Kakoli is leading a rebel faction in the Lok Sabha and is among the 19 MPs who have written to Speaker Om Birla against Mamata Banerjee. Earlier, she accused senior TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee of having a misogynistic attitude and mistreating her in the lower house, demanding action against him from Birla. However, Kalyan, a close associate of Mamata, dismissed these allegations, stating that Kakoli should have reported the incident immediately.

TMC Faces Internal Turmoil

The TMC is currently navigating one of its most challenging periods, facing rebellions in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and the West Bengal Assembly. While Kakoli leads the revolt in the Lok Sabha, Ritabrata Banerjee, a former party member, is spearheading dissent in the West Bengal Assembly. Ritabrata has also been declared the leader of the opposition in the assembly and has garnered support from 64 out of 80 TMC legislators.