TMC Crisis: Yusuf Pathan, former cricketer and Trinamool Congress MP, has been under fire over reports that he might have approached the rebel camp of the Mamata Banerjee's party amid the crisis. TMC MP Mahua Moitra launched a severe attack on Pathan, who is the MP from the Baharampur Lok Sabha constituency. She alleged that the former cricketer sided with the party's rebel faction, hours after 20 of TMC's 28 Lok Sabha MPs split to form a separate group.

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Escalating her attack, Moitra singled out Pathan, questioning his alleged outreach with the BJP leadership and the TMC rebel camp, urging him to "have some spine."

"And @iamyusufpathan you are rushing to Delhi because @AmitShah has called you? Have some courage. You played for India. Our district voted you in with a huge margin. Have some shame & some spine," she said in a different post.

What Is The Matter?

Meanwhile, it all started with reports that suggested that Mamata, who lost her seat, the Bhabanipur constituency, to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, wants to go to Delhi, replacing Patan. Reports emerged that the TMC leadership asked Pathan to resign to give leeway to the TMC chief. A few days ago, it was reported that former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly conveyed Mamata's message to Pathan to step down. Later, Ganguly refuted reports saying he was not involved in the matter. However, no official statement came from Pathan on the issue. Pathan, who officially retired from all forms of cricket in 2021, won the Bhabanipur seat in the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

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Meanwhile, reacting to claims that a group of TMC MPs may back the NDA, Moitra asserted that their electoral victories were secured on the strength of the Trinamool Congress mandate. "MPs won in 2024 on TMC ticket. Mandate was NOT for NDA," Moitra said in a post on X.

Questioning the legitimacy of any attempt to switch sides while retaining their seats, she challenged the rebel MPs to resign and contest fresh elections.

The development comes after nearly 20 Trinamool Congress (TMC) Members of Parliament today formally signalled their desire to break away from their party's current political trajectory and align with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

(With Agenies Inputs)