Jagadish Basunia, a rebel Member of Parliament for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), said party leadership stifles free speech and ignores its representatives [1, 2].
This rift threatens the internal stability of the TMC in West Bengal, as a significant faction of lawmakers considers shifting their allegiance to the national government. The move could alter the political landscape in the region following recent electoral cycles.
Basunia said the party leadership refuses to listen to MPs, specifically regarding the selection of candidates. This lack of consultation has created a divide between the top leadership and the legislative wing, a tension that escalated after the results of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election [2].
According to Basunia, the environment within the party does not permit open discussion. He said, "Mamata doesn't listen to anyone" [1].
The fallout has led to a coordinated effort among dissatisfied lawmakers. Basunia said, "A group of 20 breakaway MPs has decided to align with Prime Minister Modi because the party leadership refuses to listen to us" [2].
Basunia said the decision to seek an alignment with Prime Minister Modi is a direct result of the leadership's unwillingness to engage with its own members. The rebel MP said the inability to have a voice in party decision-making has made the current internal structure untenable [1, 2].
“"Mamata doesn't listen to anyone."”
The potential defection of 20 MPs marks a significant blow to the TMC's cohesion. By aligning with Prime Minister Modi, this breakaway group would weaken the party's legislative strength and provide the opposition with a strategic foothold in West Bengal, leveraging internal grievances over democratic processes and candidate selection to destabilize the regional leadership.
