19 TMC MPs join rebel group, merge with Nationalist Citizens Party of India

A substantial internal crisis has engulfed the Trinamool Congress (TMC) with reports indicating that 19 of its Lok Sabha MPs have formed a rebel faction. This development, which has led to a potential vertical split within the party, was first reported around June 2026. The group, reportedly led by senior leader Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, has formally communicated their decision to the Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, submitting a letter on May 18, 2026, indicating their intent to break away and merge with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) [9, 15, 25, 38]. The list of signatories includes prominent figures such as former Indian cricketer Yusuf Pathan, actress and politician Saayoni Ghosh, and long-time Mamata loyalist Mala Roy [10, 25, 39]. The decision to merge with a registered regional party like the NCPI, rather than forming a separate bloc within the TMC or joining a major national party immediately, is a strategic move designed to circumvent the anti-defection law. This law allows for disqualification if a member leaves their party, but not if two-thirds of the party's legislators decide to merge with another party [8, 15]. The rebel MPs claim to represent more than two-thirds of the TMC's parliamentary strength, which stood at 28 MPs in the Lok Sabha prior to this split [8, 10, 25]. Following the party's significant defeat in the recent West Bengal Assembly elections, the TMC has been grappling with internal dissent and defections. This parliamentary rebellion is seen as an extension of the turmoil that has also affected the party's strength in the state assembly, where a significant number of MLAs have reportedly shown dissent or joined rebel factions [17, 23, 43]. The rebel group's decision to merge with the NCPI, a relatively lesser-known outfit registered in West Bengal's Howrah district, has surprised many in political circles [8, 15]. While the rebel faction has stated their intention to work with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA, some MPs, like Yusuf Pathan, Abu Taher Khan, and Khalilur Rahaman, have indicated they may not actively support the NDA due to concerns about voter backlash in their constituencies [28]. The rebel MPs have sought separate seating arrangements in the Lok Sabha, and the Speaker's office has requested additional documents for verification of the merger [42]. The TMC leadership, including party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, has actively countered the claims of the rebel faction. Abhishek Banerjee has written to the Speaker urging him not to recognize any separate group and to treat the TMC as a single party [24]. The party has also denied reports of a potential merger with the Indian National Congress, despite meetings between TMC and Congress leaders, including Mamata Banerjee and Sonia Gandhi, and Abhishek Banerjee and Rahul Gandhi [13, 16, 30, 31, 32]. These meetings were framed as discussions to deepen ties within the INDIA bloc and coordinate against the BJP [16, 32]. Mahua Moitra, a prominent TMC MP who has remained loyal to the party leadership, has criticized the rebel faction, referring to them as 'traitors' [10]. The internal conflict has led to calls for organizational overhaul within the TMC, with the party dissolving its state committees in West Bengal in an attempt to regain control [17]. The unfolding situation highlights the deep fractures within the Trinamool Congress and poses a significant challenge to Mamata Banerjee's leadership and the party's future trajectory.

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