TMC Crisis: The crisis in the Trinamool Congress continued to deepen as the majority of the TMC MPs of both Houses maintained distance from the Mamata Banerjee-led camp. The latest, perhaps hardest blow came from Mamata's troubleshooter, Kalyan Banerjee, who opened a front against Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of TMC chief. Kalyan launched a sharp attack on Abhishek, declaring he would remain in the party only if the latter were removed from all leadership positions.
Four TMC Rajya Sabha MPs Resigned Amid TMC Crisis
TMC leader Koel Mallick on Thursday resigned from Rajya Sabha in another big jolt to Mamata amid a crisis in her party. Her decision to quit the Rajya Sabha reduced TMC's strength in the Upper House from 13 to 9.
ALSO READ: TMC Crisis: Who Is Weakening The Political Empire Of Mamata Banerjee? The Inside Story
The Rajya Sabha MPs Who Resigned So Far:
- Sukhendu Sekhar Roy
- Sushmita Dev
- Prakash Chik Baraik
- Koel Mallick
Larger Picture Behind The Resignations
The resignations by the TMC Rajya Sabha MPs do not only mark a revolt against Mamata and Abhishek, but also a plan to strengthen the NDA in the Upper House. According to political observers, the TMC MPs, who resigned from the Rajya Sabha membership, may contest again on the Bharatiya Janata Party ticket, and they may get rebel MLAs' votes in the next election for the Upper House. Expelled TMC MLA Ritatbrata Banerjee, who steered the revolt, already hinted at support for the NDA. On Wednesday, Ritabrata claimed that the number of rebel MLAs is now 64, up from 58 earlier, and is rising. In the changed political atmosphere in West Bengal, rebel MLAs are either silent or critical of Mamata's camp, which opens a window for the BJP to increase its tally in the Rajya Sabha.
Last week, more than two-thirds of the party's MLAs - 58 out of 80 - broke away from the official TMC legislature party and secured recognition as the principal opposition bloc in the West Bengal Assembly under expelled legislator Ritabrata. The rebel camp has since claimed that its strength has risen further. The crisis later spread to Parliament, with rebel MPs led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar claiming the support of more than 20 Lok Sabha members.
NDA Working To Improve Tally In Parliament
On the other side, the government has been making an attempt to improve its tally in the Parliament since its key Bills were defeated in the Lok Sabha on in April, failing to secure the required two-thirds majority votes. On April 17, during an extended sitting of Parliament, the Constitution amendment bill to implement reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of seats in the Lok Sabha was defeated in the Lower House, with 298 members voting in support of the bill and 230 MPs voting against it.
With two opposition parties - TMC and AAP facing rebellion and the third (DMK) distancing itself from the INDIA bloc, hopes have rekindled for the NDA government to bring afresh the delimitation bill to increase Lok Sabha seats for implementing women’s quota in the 2029 parliamentary polls.
The 20 rebel MPs reportedly planning to support the NDA, and if this happens, the NDA tally in the Lok Sabha will cross the 300 mark for the first time. If the 22 DMK MPs offer support, the number will go up further, close to a two-thirds majority (362). There is also buzz that some Shiv Sena (UTB) MPs may move to the NDA fold. Likewise, the ruling alliance is eying to increase the number in the Upper House as well.
(With Agencies Inputs)