Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP from Barasat, said about 20 TMC lawmakers want to align with the National Democratic Alliance [1].
This potential shift threatens the stability of the TMC's legislative presence in the Lok Sabha and suggests a deepening rift within the party's leadership in West Bengal.
Dastidar said the lawmakers have written to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha to request separate seating [1, 2]. According to Dastidar, 20 MPs are ready for this transition [1].
Speaking with journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, Dastidar linked the internal turmoil to issues within the state. She said the move reflects anger over lawlessness, mis-governance, and a leadership that has lost touch with the masses in West Bengal [1, 3].
The MP has previously distanced herself from the party's core administration. In late May 2026, reports indicated she resigned from key party posts [4].
Addressing the internal crisis and her stance against the party leadership, Dastidar said, "Mera sar katega lekin jhukega nahi" [5].
While the claims suggest a significant bloc of lawmakers is prepared to defect, the TMC leadership has not officially confirmed the number of MPs seeking separate seating. The situation remains a point of contention as the rebel group continues to challenge the party's current governance model in the region [2].
“20 TMC MPs have written to the Speaker seeking separate seating and alignment with the NDA.”
A mass defection of 20 lawmakers would significantly weaken the TMC's bargaining power in the Lok Sabha and could signal a shift in the political landscape of West Bengal. If the rebel MPs successfully secure separate seating, it creates a formal legislative precedent for a split, potentially emboldening other dissatisfied members to leave the party.
