20 TMC MPs Meet Suvendu Adhikari Amid Growing Buzz Of Split In Mamata Banerjee's Party

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) found itself at the centre of fresh political turbulence on Monday after 20 of its Members of Parliament reportedly met senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari at a BJP minister's residence. The development has intensified speculation about a possible split within the Mamata Banerjee-led party ahead of crucial political battles in West Bengal.

The MPs, led by Rajya Sabha member Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Lok Sabha MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, have also written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking separate seating arrangements in Parliament as an independent faction, further fuelling talk of internal divisions within the party.

MPs Seek Recognition as Separate Group

According to reports, the legislators have formally approached Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla requesting that they be allotted seats separately from the Trinamool Congress in the House.

Among the MPs believed to be associated with the move are Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Partha Bhowmick, Jagadish Basunia, Mitali Bag, Dev, Shatabdi Roy, Rachna Banerjee, Sharmila Sarkar, Kalipada Soren, Arup Chakraborty, Asit Mal, Shatrughan Sinha, Prasun Banerjee, Pratima Mondal and Bapi Haldar.

Except for Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, who served in the Rajya Sabha, all the other names linked to the development are Lok Sabha MPs.

Numbers Game Could Determine Rebels' Future

Any formal rebellion within the Trinamool Congress would have significant legal implications. Under the anti-defection provisions of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, a breakaway faction would need the support of at least two-thirds of the party's Lok Sabha members to avoid disqualification.

For the TMC, that threshold stands at 19 MPs in the Lok Sabha. With 15 Lok Sabha MPs currently being linked to the reported grouping, the numbers remain short of the requirement needed for protection under anti-defection laws.

Political observers believe the coming days could prove crucial in determining whether the development remains a pressure tactic or evolves into a full-fledged split within the party.

Sukhendu Sekhar Ray Resigns from Rajya Sabha and TMC

The political drama unfolded shortly after Sukhendu Sekhar Ray announced his resignation from the Rajya Sabha and formally severed ties with the Trinamool Congress.

Ray accused the Mamata Banerjee government of being affected by corruption and failing to adequately address crimes against women. His departure marked one of the most significant exits from the party in recent years.

The veteran politician suggested that his relationship with the party leadership deteriorated after he demanded accountability in the RG Kar Hospital rape-murder case.

RG Kar Case Inquiry Demand Led to Isolation, Says Ray

Speaking to reporters after his resignation, Ray claimed that his insistence on an internal probe into the role of certain police officers in the RG Kar Hospital case led to his marginalisation within the organisation.

"My only fault was that I demanded an internal inquiry against certain police officers because I believed they had a major role in destruction of evidence. That was the turning point. I realised I would not remain in the party for long," he told reporters.

His remarks have added another layer to the controversy surrounding the high-profile case while also highlighting the growing tensions within the Trinamool Congress leadership.

The meeting between the MPs and Suvendu Adhikari, coupled with Ray's resignation and the demand for separate seating in Parliament, has triggered fresh questions about the unity of the ruling party in West Bengal and whether a larger political realignment is underway.