Twenty rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs are planning a joint defamation lawsuit against MP Mahua Moitra following allegations of bribery [1].
The legal threat underscores a deepening fracture within the party in West Bengal, as accusations of financial inducement to switch political allegiances threaten to destabilize the party's regional standing.
Moitra said that the group of lawmakers received a ₹40 crore bribe [1] to split from the TMC and join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) [2]. The accusation targets a specific faction of the party that has already distanced itself from the central leadership.
The affected MPs denied the claim and said they will seek legal recourse for defamation [2]. This move follows a period of escalating tension between Moitra and the dissident members of her party.
The dispute centers on the integrity of the legislators and the motives behind their departure from the Trinamool Congress. By filing a joint suit, the 20 lawmakers [1] aim to challenge the validity of the ₹40 crore claim in court [2].
Political observers in India said that such public accusations often precede more formal party disciplinary actions or shifts in parliamentary coalitions. The rebel MPs said that the allegations are baseless and designed to malign their reputations during a volatile political split [2].
“Twenty rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs are planning a joint defamation lawsuit”
This legal battle signals a transition from political disagreement to judicial conflict within the Trinamool Congress. The scale of the alleged bribe—₹40 crore—suggests a high-stakes effort to influence the composition of the NDA, while the collective legal response by 20 MPs indicates a coordinated effort by the rebels to maintain their political legitimacy and shield themselves from corruption charges.
