Who are the 19 rebel TMC MPs? From Yusuf Pathan to Saayoni Ghosh, the faces behind the revolt

The internal crisis within West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) escalated sharply on Friday after a news agency reported that 19 rebel MPs approached the Lok Sabha Speaker’s Office seeking separate seating arrangements, a move that has intensified questions over the party’s unity and future course.

The development comes against the backdrop of a widening power struggle inside the party following its disappointing performance in the recent West Bengal Assembly elections. While senior leaders in the rebel camp are projecting growing support among lawmakers, speculation over possible political realignments has continued to swirl, even as dissident leaders insist the battle remains an internal matter.

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News agency ANI mentioned sources as saying that the names submitted to the Speaker’s Office on May 18 include senior leaders Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Satabdi Roy, along with Saayoni Ghosh, Khalilur Rahaman, Prasun Bandyopadhyay, Abu Taher Khan, Yusuf Pathan, Jagadish Barma Basunia, Bapi Haldar, Dr Sharmila Sarkar, Rachna Banerjee, Asit Kumar Mal, Arup Chakraborty, Deepak Adhikari, June Malia, Mitali Bag, Mala Roy, Kalipada Soren, and Partha Bhowmick.

Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar later confirmed that a group of 20 MPs had formally sought separate seating in the Lok Sabha, a step widely seen as a public assertion of the growing divide within the party’s parliamentary ranks.

According to Sources here is the list of 19 out of 20 TMC breakaway MPs that sent their names to the Lok Sabha Speaker’s Office on May 18th.

1. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar
2. Satabdi Roy
3. Bapi Haldar
4. Dr. Sharmila Sarkar
5. Prasun Bandyopadhyay
6. Jagadish Barma Basunia
7. Asit… pic.twitter.com/MM2rPhYuaf

— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2026

Three Rajya Sabha exits add to pressure on TMC leadership

The latest developments follow a string of high-profile resignations from the Rajya Sabha.

On Thursday, TMC MP Prakash Chik Baraik resigned from the Upper House, becoming the third party parliamentarian to quit within a week. Earlier, Sushmita Dev stepped down from the Rajya Sabha on June 10, while Sukhendu Sekhar Ray resigned both from the Upper House and from the primary membership of the Trinamool Congress on June 8.

Soon after submitting his resignation, Baraik said he had taken the decision after accepting the “opinion of the people” of West Bengal.

Rebel faction claims support of 64 MLAs

The political uncertainty was further fuelled this week by claims from rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee, who recently received recognition as the Leader of the Opposition from the West Bengal Assembly Speaker.

Rejecting reports of a possible merger with the Congress, Banerjee maintained that the developments were confined to the TMC’s internal affairs. He also claimed that the rebel camp now enjoys the support of 64 MLAs, up from the 58 legislators who had initially backed the faction.

According to Banerjee, the legislators are preparing to submit a fresh letter to the Assembly Speaker to formally reinforce their position.

NDA speculation grows, but no merger confirmed

Meanwhile, reports of meetings between rebel TMC MPs, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and BJP leaders in West Bengal have added to speculation about a possible alignment with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

However, no formal merger has been announced by either side.

Any split seeking official recognition would have to meet the requirements of the anti-defection law under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which requires support from at least two-thirds of members for a breakaway group to be recognised.