Reports indicate that between 20 and 23 Trinamool Congress (TMC) Members of Parliament have contacted the BJP or a rebel faction [1], [2].
A mass defection of this scale would significantly alter the political landscape in West Bengal and weaken the TMC's standing in the Lok Sabha. Such a move could shift the balance of power between the regional government and the central administration.
Some reports state that 20 TMC MPs are in touch with the BJP [1]. Other accounts suggest the number is higher, with 23 MPs reported as being in contact with a rebel camp [2]. These reports emerged in recent weeks regarding events in 2024 [1], [2].
There are conflicting accounts regarding the specific actions taken by these lawmakers. One report said that the MPs wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking to join the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) [3]. However, other sources said the lawmakers are merely in contact with a rebel faction and have not necessarily sought to join the NDA [2].
The potential split is viewed as a crisis deepening for the party leadership. The situation has reportedly led to emergency meetings called by party leadership to address the instability [2]. The movement of these lawmakers suggests a shift in political equations between West Bengal and New Delhi [3].
The TMC has not officially confirmed the number of defectors or the nature of the correspondence with the Speaker's office. The discrepancy in the numbers, ranging from 20 [1] to 23 [2], reflects the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the rebel faction's size.
“Between 20 and 23 Trinamool Congress MPs have contacted the BJP or a rebel faction.”
If these reports are accurate, the Trinamool Congress faces a critical internal fracture that could diminish its influence as a primary opposition force in India. A shift of over 20 lawmakers toward the NDA would not only strengthen the ruling coalition's majority but also signal a decline in the regional hegemony of the TMC within West Bengal.
