Nineteen Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha members have formed a separate parliamentary bloc to ally with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance [1].
This shift threatens the stability of Mamata Banerjee's leadership in New Delhi and could alter the balance of power within the lower house. By moving toward the NDA, these lawmakers are signaling a significant internal rupture within one of India's most prominent regional parties.
The rebel group includes Yusuf Pathan, Shatrughan Sinha, Saayoni Ghosh, and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar [1, 2, 3]. These members, along with 15 other MPs, have either submitted or are preparing to submit a formal letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla regarding their alignment [1, 2].
Sources said the move stems from growing discontent with the leadership of Mamata Banerjee [1, 5]. The rebel faction has established its own bloc to facilitate a strategic transition toward the ruling coalition [1, 2]. While some reports state the group has already pledged support to the NDA, others suggest the exact timing of that support remains unconfirmed [1, 4].
Under current anti-defection laws, a split is only recognized if two-thirds of the party's strength agrees to it [4]. For the TMC, this threshold is 66.7% of its Lok Sabha strength [4]. Because the rebel group consists of 19 members [1], they may face legal challenges regarding their seats if they do not meet this percentage.
The move comes as a significant blow to the TMC's legislative cohesion. The rebel MPs are seeking a formal shift in alliance to align themselves with the national government's current trajectory [1, 4].
“Nineteen Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha members have formed a separate parliamentary bloc to ally with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance”
This rebellion creates a precarious legal and political situation for the 19 MPs. Since they do not meet the 66.7% threshold required for a legal party split under anti-defection rules, they risk disqualification from Parliament. However, their move provides the BJP-led NDA with increased leverage and further weakens the Trinamool Congress's influence in the Lok Sabha.
