Kirti Azad, a senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP, publicly accused fellow lawmaker Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar of pursuing personal power over party principles.
The confrontation highlights deepening internal fractures within the TMC following the removal of Dastidar as the party's Lok Sabha chief whip. These tensions suggest a struggle for influence within the party's leadership hierarchy in New Delhi.
Azad made the remarks during an interview with NDTV and at a Trinamool Congress press conference held in New Delhi [1, 2]. He targeted Dastidar and other rebel MPs, accusing them of engaging in anti-party activities [2]. Azad said the internal revolt is driven by a quest for power rather than genuine ideological or principled concerns.
"This is about power, not principles," Azad said [1].
He further accused the dissenting lawmakers of betraying the party. The friction comes at a time of transition for Dastidar, who served the Trinamool Congress for about 40 years [3] before her removal from the role of chief whip.
According to reports, the party has since brought in Kalyan Banerjee to fill the vacancy left by Dastidar's removal [4]. Azad's public critique serves as a warning to other members who may be considering similar dissent against the party's established order.
“"This is about power, not principles."”
The public nature of this dispute indicates a breakdown in the TMC's internal conflict-resolution mechanisms. By framing the dissent as a quest for personal power rather than a policy disagreement, the party leadership is attempting to delegitimize the rebel MPs and maintain strict discipline within its parliamentary wing.
