Amid the continuing political turmoil within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), senior party MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Birbhum MP Satabdi Roy were seen travelling together in the national capital on Thursday, triggering fresh speculation over ongoing efforts to manage the crisis within the party.
According to reports, Bandhopadhyay was seen at the residence of Union Minister Bhupender Yadav where all rebel TMC leaders reportedly gathered for a meeting.
The development comes at a time when a section of TMC MPs has openly rebelled against the party leadership and announced support for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Rebel leaders have claimed that as many as 20 of the party’s 28 Lok Sabha MPs are backing the move and have sought recognition as a separate parliamentary bloc.
According to reports, Sudip and Satabdi were spotted in the same vehicle in Delhi while political activity surrounding the rebellion intensified. The sighting has drawn attention because Satabdi is among the MPs associated with the rebel camp that has questioned the party’s current leadership.
Earlier this week, Roy also met with Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari at her Delhi residence along with other ‘rebel’ TMC MLAs. Following which she launched a sharp attack on the TMC leadership, alleging that the views of party leaders were being ignored and that access to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had become increasingly restricted. She also argued that the party should have acted more firmly against corruption and paid greater attention to feedback from its leaders.
The rebellion has emerged as one of the most serious challenges faced by the TMC since its formation. Rebel MPs have held meetings in Delhi and maintained that they intend to support the NDA while claiming they are not formally joining the BJP. The numbers claimed by the rebel faction, if sustained, could have significant implications under anti-defection provisions and for the party’s parliamentary strength.
Notably, the meeting also comes a day before CM Adhikari is slated to meet rebel TMC leaders prior to their meeting with Lok Sabha speaker on Monday.
