West Bengal: Rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar on Sunday said that two more MPs are set to join the rebel faction, taking their total strength in the Lok Sabha to 22.

Speaking to news agency PTI at the Kolkata airport before departing for New Delhi, Ghosh Dastidar said that the rebel MPs will meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday, June 15, to seek recognition as a separate parliamentary bloc.

"We are going to Delhi for a meeting. Twenty-two MPs are with us. The Speaker has given us time. We will meet him on Monday and seek recognition as a separate bloc," she said.

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While she did not reveal the names of the two additional MPs, Ghosh Dastidar stated that their identities would be disclosed once they formally join the group.

"Those who honestly voiced their opinions against the situation prevailing in West Bengal over the last four to five years have been in touch with us. Our number is now 22," she added.

Rebel TMC Faction Meeting To Be Held In Delhi

According to a report by PTI citing sources in the rebel faction, a meeting of the group, originally scheduled to take place in Kolkata, was shifted to Delhi, where they met Union Minister and BJP leader Bhupender Yadav. This development comes amid a deepening turmoil within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) following the West Bengal Assembly election. The rift between the party's Lok Sabha contingent became highly visible earlier this week when the rebel MPs distanced themselves from Mamata Banerjee's leadership.

Earlier on Monday, Ghosh Dastidar claimed the support of around 20 TMC MPs and said the group wanted to support the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre.

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Document With Signatures Of 19 TMC MPs Surfaced

Amid the deepening internal crisis, a document bearing the signatures of 19 TMC MPs surfaced on Friday. The signatories include Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Satabdi Roy, Bapi Haldar, Sharmila Sarkar, Prasun Banerjee, Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, Asit Mal, Arup Chakraborty, Kalipada Soren, Deepak Adhikari (Dev), June Maliah, Partha Bhowmick, Khalilur Rahaman, Abu Taher Khan, Yusuf Pathan, Mitali Bag, and Mala Roy.

The document also included the separate signatures of Rachana Banerjee and Sayani Ghosh. These MPs have written to the Lok Sabha Speaker seeking recognition as a separate faction under the leadership of Ghosh Dastidar. However, there has been no official confirmation from the Speaker's Secretariat on whether the letter has been received.

Sudip Bandyopadhyay Meeting With Bhupendra Yadav Sparks Buzz

A meeting between senior TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav in New Delhi on Saturday sparked fresh political speculation. It also raised questions about whether the veteran MP could join a rebel faction seeking recognition as a separate parliamentary group.

(With Inputs From PTI)