Why Did Trinamool Congress Withdraw Yusuf Pathan from the Multi-Party Delegation?

Trinamool Congress Takes a Stand

In a recent development, the central government's decision to include Yusuf Pathan, a cricketer-turned-politician and Lok Sabha representative from Baharampur, in the multi-party delegation for Operation Sindoor has led to the Trinamool Congress retracting his nomination. This action was taken without prior consultation with West Bengal's Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee.

While no official explanation has been provided for this withdrawal, insiders from the party indicated that the Trinamool Congress values its distinct identity and internal protocols, making it difficult for them to accept what they perceive as the BJP's unilateral decision regarding the representation of their party member.

A senior party figure, who chose to remain anonymous, stated, "Mamata Banerjee was not informed about Pathan's inclusion beforehand, nor was the party leadership officially notified. Instead, the Lok Sabha member was contacted directly for his passport information. The BJP and the Union government cannot dictate who represents Trinamool Congress in any multi-party delegation."

Derek O’Brien, the party's leader in the Rajya Sabha, articulated that while the Trinamool Congress supports initiatives by the Union government that serve national interests, they believe that international diplomacy should be managed solely by the Centre.

Interestingly, the Trinamool Congress has adopted a cautious approach regarding Operation Sindoor, which involved the Indian military dismantling several terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Chief Minister has refrained from commenting on the operation during media interactions. Recently, when party member Saugata Roy made some offhand remarks about Operation Sindoor, the party quickly distanced itself from his comments, stating, "Let us emphatically state that the statement made by Prof Saugata Roy, MP, is not the opinion of the All India Trinamool Congress."

Furthermore, the party leadership has issued a stern warning to all members to avoid public discussions about this sensitive national issue, whether on social media, with the press, or in public gatherings.