TMC rebels include Yusuf Pathan, Saayoni Ghosh, Shatrughan Sinha.
Twenty TMC MPs, including Pathan, join rebel camp.
TMC Rebel List Grows to 20 MPs Including Yusuf Pathan, Saayoni Ghosh, Shatrughan Sinha; Party Faces Vertical Split
The political turmoil within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has deepened significantly and spilled into Parliament, with as many as 20 MPs reportedly signing a rebel list, pushing the party toward a possible vertical split, sources said on Wednesday. Among the prominent faces backing the rebel camp are former cricketer-turned-politician Yusuf Pathan, actor-turned-politician Saayoni Ghosh, and veteran Bollywood star and former Union minister Shatrughan Sinha. The rebels have allegedly joined hands with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), posing an unprecedented challenge to TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s leadership.
The latest to join the rebel camp was former footballer-turned-politician Prasun Banerjee, the Lok Sabha MP from Chanchal, who reportedly added his name on Thursday. Banerjee was among the 20 MPs who attended an informal meeting at an undisclosed location in the national capital late on Sunday night, according to a PTI report. The gathering, held under tight secrecy, is believed to have been the platform where the rebellion was consolidated and strategies were discussed for coordinating with the NDA.
This unprecedented rebellion among parliamentarians, coupled with a massive mutiny in the West Bengal Assembly, marks the gravest challenge to Mamata Banerjee’s authority since the party’s inception in 1998. The development comes at a particularly sensitive time, with national elections approaching and the TMC having positioned itself as a key regional force capable of challenging the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in eastern India.
Internal Rifts and Leadership Challenges
The rebellion appears to have been brewing for months, fueled by discontent over candidate selection, distribution of party tickets, and what some MPs describe as an increasingly centralized decision-making process dominated by Mamata Banerjee and her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee. Several of the rebel MPs have reportedly felt marginalized within the party organization, with limited access to the leadership and diminished roles in parliamentary committees.
The inclusion of high-profile figures like Yusuf Pathan—a World Cup-winning cricketer who entered politics with considerable fanfare—is particularly damaging to the TMC’s public image. Pathan, who represents the Baharampur constituency, had been seen as a major electoral asset. Similarly, Saayoni Ghoni, a popular Bengali film actress and the party’s youth face, was expected to be a future leader. Their defection sends a strong signal that the rebellion has significant weight.
Impact on Parliamentary Strength and Government Formation
The defection of 20 MPs could have immediate consequences for the TMC’s standing in Parliament. The party currently has 23 Lok Sabha members and 13 Rajya Sabha members. Losing 20 would reduce it to just three MPs in the lower house, severely crippling its ability to influence legislation or negotiate for committee positions.
West Bengal’s political landscape is also in turmoil, with reports of a massive mutiny brewing in the state Assembly. While exact numbers remain unclear, sources indicate that dozens of TMC MLAs are in contact with opposition parties, exploring options to switch sides or form a separate bloc. A vertical split would not only reduce the TMC’s control over the state government but could also trigger a constitutional crisis if the government’s majority is called into question.
Party Response and Future Outlook
The TMC leadership has so far remained publicly defiant. Party spokespersons have dismissed the rebel list as “fake news” and “BJP propaganda,” while accusing opposition parties of trying to destabilize the democratically elected government in West Bengal. However, privately, senior TMC leaders have acknowledged the seriousness of the situation. Emergency meetings have been called, and loyalist MPs have been instructed to remain in Kolkata to prevent further poaching attempts.
Known for her political acumen and ability to bounce back from adversity, she faces what may be the defining challenge of her career. Whether she can contain the damage, win back rebels, or reassert control will determine not only the TMC’s future but also the broader political alignment of eastern India ahead of the next general election.