TMC's Mahua Moitra Criticizes Yusuf Pathan Amid Party Turmoil

Political Turmoil in TMC

In the midst of unprecedented political upheaval within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the party's outspoken MP Mahua Moitra has launched a direct and sharp critique against fellow party member and former cricketer Yusuf Pathan. Moitra's frustration surfaced after 20 out of 28 TMC MPs made a surprising decision to support the BJP-led NDA coalition at the center. Representing Krishnanagar in the Lok Sabha, Moitra took to the social media platform 'X' to express her disapproval of Pathan.

Moitra's Challenge to Pathan

Moitra criticized Pathan for hastily traveling to New Delhi at the invitation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. She challenged him to show some courage and reminded him of his days representing India in international cricket. She stated, "Our district elected you by a significant margin. Show some shame and courage."

Moitra's Stance Amidst Crisis

Throughout this crisis, Moitra has remained firmly aligned with former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, as the party faces its most significant challenge since its inception in 1998. Recently, she strongly criticized rebel legislators who have taken control of the party's legislative wing, labeling them as "completely useless" leaders who only survive due to Banerjee's charisma.

Controversy Surrounding Yusuf Pathan

Pathan has recently found himself at the center of a political controversy. A Bengali daily reported that TMC attempted to persuade the former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly to convince Pathan to resign from his position as MP for Baharampur, allowing Banerjee to contest a by-election from that seat. The report also claimed that Pathan rejected this proposal.

TMC's Strategic Considerations

According to reports, TMC views Baharampur as a safe constituency for Banerjee, given that the Muslim population, which constitutes the party's primary support base, makes up an estimated 50-52% of the electorate. However, Ganguly has outright denied these claims, accusing the newspaper of completely ignoring the truth.

Pathan's Political Journey

Pathan defeated Congress veteran Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, becoming the first TMC candidate to win the Baharampur seat since the party's formation in the late 1990s. Moitra's remarks came as Chief Whip Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar led 20 Lok Sabha MPs in writing to Speaker Om Birla, announcing their support for the BJP-led NDA, causing a rift within TMC's parliamentary unit.

Rebel MPs' Future Plans

Ghosh Dastidar stated that the decision to separate was made after discussions with fellow MPs. She mentioned, "We have accepted the people's decision and believe our future political direction should align with the NDA." Sources from the rebel faction indicated that there are no immediate plans for MPs to leave TMC or formally join the BJP. Instead, they aim to operate as a separate parliamentary group while supporting the NDA, a move seen as an attempt to avoid disqualification under anti-defection laws.