Mahua, Saugata target TMC rebels amid defection buzz

Amid continuing speculation over internal dissent and possible defections within the Trinamul Congress (TMC), senior party leaders on Friday mounted a strong defence of the organisation, with MPs Mahua Moitra and Saugata Roy launching sharp attacks on rebel legislators and parliamentarians reportedly exploring political alternatives.

Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra took to social media to challenge what she described as “traitor” TMC lawmakers, asserting that attempts to form a separate bloc within the party had no constitutional basis.

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In a strongly worded post, Moitra argued that the provisions allowing a split in a political party had been removed through the 91st Constitutional Amendment in 2003. She maintained that the number of MPs or MLAs supporting a rebellion was immaterial unless two-thirds of the members of the original political party formally merged with another recognised political formation. “Traitor TMC lawmakers don’t know law. Constitution 91st Amendment 2003 removed provision for split/separate bloc. Number of MPs is irrelevant ~ two-thirds of original political party has to merge with another party. All 19 traitors need to resign and contest on BJP ticket,” she wrote on X.

Moitra has consistently projected herself as a loyalist of party chief Mamata Banerjee. Since the emergence of reports suggesting discontent within sections of the party following the 2026 Assembly election results, she has repeatedly reaffirmed her allegiance to the TMC leadership.

Adding to the chorus, veteran TMC MP Saugata Roy criticised leaders allegedly considering a shift to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), describing such political manoeuvring as unethical. “In my view, switching parties or talking about joining the NDA so soon is unethical,” Roy said while reacting to reports of dissident voices within the party. The senior parliamentarian expressed concern over the trend of elected representatives distancing themselves from the party in the aftermath of electoral setbacks. He suggested that ideological commitment and political accountability should take precedence over opportunistic realignments.

Roy also addressed the growing friction between sections of the party leadership and rebel legislators, underscoring the need for discipline and unity at a time when the TMC is confronting one of its most challenging political phases in recent years.