Mahua Moitra, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP, accused rebel party members of accepting large bribes to switch allegiance to the BJP [1].
This confrontation signals a deepening fracture within the TMC, as high-profile allegations of financial corruption threaten to destabilize the party's internal cohesion in West Bengal.
Moitra said that lawmakers who left the party were offered Rs 4 crore upfront and Rs 1 crore every month for 36 months [2]. She described the rebels as "completely useless" [1].
Moitra challenged the defectors to leave their current positions and seek mandates under a different banner. "Traitors need to resign, fight on BJP ticket," Moitra said [3].
The number of rebel MPs involved varies by report, with some sources citing 19 members [3] while others indicate around 20 rebel Lok Sabha MPs [2]. These lawmakers are reportedly preparing a defamation suit against Moitra in response to the bribery claims [2].
Reports indicate some of these rebel MPs have traveled to Delhi to meet with officials [4]. The rebels denied the allegations of bribery and are seeking legal recourse to protect their reputations [2].
Moitra's public challenge comes amid claims of a party split, as the TMC struggles to maintain its ranks against the influence of the BJP [1].
“"The rebels are completely useless."”
The public fallout between Moitra and the rebel MPs highlights a strategic battle for the soul of the TMC. By framing the defections as financial transactions rather than ideological shifts, Moitra is attempting to delegitimize the rebels' motives. However, the threat of a collective defamation suit by nearly 20 lawmakers suggests that the rebels are prepared to use the judiciary to challenge her narrative, potentially further polarizing the party's base ahead of future elections.
