Mamata’s TMC continues to implode as rebel Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar emerges as ‘new Didi’, leads 20 MPs to NDA fold

At least 20 Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha MPs, led by ‘new Didi’ Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, have informed Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla that they want to be part of the BJP-NDA and snap ties with the TMC parliamentary party.

“We held a meeting. We want to sit separately. I respect Didi. I wanted to work, but I could not. Under the leadership of Kakoli di, this separate bloc has been formed. This will help in the development of Bengal,” said Sharmila Sarkar, one of the rebel Trinamool MPs.

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The Bardhaman Purba MP further confirmed that the rebel bloc has 20 MPs, one more than the 19 (one third of the 28 TMC MPs) required to avoid expulsion under the anti-defection law.

The rebel MPs held a meeting with West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari at the residence of Union Minister and BJP’s Bengal in-charge Bhupender Yadav.

“We are 20 MPs. We held a meeting at Bhupender Yadav’s residence in the presence of West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. We need to support NDA for Bengal’s development. Kakoli di submitted the letter. So far, she is leading our bloc,” she added.

Last month, Dastidar resigned from major organisational responsibilities following the party’s disappointing performance across several Assembly segments in her stronghold.

In her resignation letter, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar wrote, “…During my tenure, it has not been possible to stop the inappropriate behaviour of another educated woman MP towards women MPs, nor has adequate cooperation or empathy been received from the higher leadership. Remaining in such a position no longer holds meaning. Over the last decade, several serious allegations and incidents concerning West Bengal and the party have deeply troubled my conscience.”

She said that corruption in ration distribution and teacher recruitment, as well as various financial and administrative irregularities, have “created deep anger and distrust among ordinary people.”

The Mamata Banerjee-led party has been facing rebellion on two fronts. After the Assembly polls debacle, 59 of the party’s 80 MLAs, led by Ritabrata Banerjee, had refused to accept Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of the Opposition in the Bengal Legislative Assembly.

They later formed their own faction and elected Ritabrata Banerjee as the TMC Legislative Party leader.

Most of them have blamed Abhishek Banerjee for the crisis that has been unfolding since the election results.

Earlier today, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Shekhar Ray resigned and gave up his membership of the party.

He accused the previous Mamata Banerjee-led Bengal government of rampant corruption and abysmal failure on various fronts.

Ray said that he had made up his mind long ago and said that the RG Kar rape and murder case was the trigger.