A rebel faction of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs said about 20 members will leave the party to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) [1].
This potential mass defection threatens the stability of the TMC in West Bengal and could shift the balance of power in the U.S. national Parliament. If the move proceeds, it would represent a significant blow to the leadership of Mamata Banerjee.
The rebel camp is led by Kakoli Dastidar and recognizes Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition [1]. According to reports, the group has submitted a letter to the Speaker indicating their intent to defect [2]. While some reports specify 20 parliamentarians [1], other accounts suggest as many as 23 MPs are in touch with the rebel camp [3].
Members of the faction said they are seeking alignment with the NDA due to lawlessness, and corruption within the state administration [1]. Some rebels also said they have been intimidated by the BJP, a move that has paradoxically prompted them to seek a formal alliance with the NDA [5].
The internal conflict has extended beyond the national Parliament into the state assembly. On May 22, 2026, reports emerged regarding a dispute over the allotment of a room for the Leader of the Opposition in the Bengal Assembly [4].
Mamata Banerjee has called an emergency meeting to address the deepening crisis [3]. The party leadership has pushed back against the claims made by the rebel camp [2].
“about 20 members will leave the party to join the National Democratic Alliance”
The movement of a significant bloc of MPs from the TMC to the NDA would weaken the TMC's leverage in the Lok Sabha and signal a breakdown in party discipline under Mamata Banerjee. By citing both state misgovernance and BJP intimidation, the rebels are framing their defection as a necessity for political survival and ethical governance, potentially creating a blueprint for other dissatisfied lawmakers in West Bengal.
