Amid escalating tensions within the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) following the party's crushing defeat in the recent West Bengal Assembly
elections, MP Mahua Moitra on Friday launched a scathing attack on the19 rebel MPs who have declared support for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), calling them "traitors" and insisting they must resign before joining another political formation. In a post on X, Moitra dismissed claims that the dissident MPs could avoid disqualification under anti-defection provisions, arguing that the Constitution's 91st Amendment had done away with the provision for a split or separate bloc. “Traitor TMC lawmakers don’t know law. Constitution 91st Amendment 2003 removed provision for split/separate bloc. Number of MPs is irrelevant – 2/3 of original political party has to MERGE with another party. All 19 traitors need to resign and contest on BJP ticket," she said.
Rebels Back NDA, Challenge Party Leadership
The controversy stems from a letter submitted last month by 19 dissident TMC MPs, led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. In the letter, the MPs claimed Dastidar continues to be the party's Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha and informed the Speaker of their decision to support the NDA.The rebels have argued that although Mamata Banerjee removed Dastidar as Chief Whip and appointed Kalyan Banerjee in her place, the change was allegedly never formally communicated to the Lok Sabha Secretariat. According to them, Dastidar therefore remains the recognised Chief Whip in official records.
Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar Defends Move
Speaking to ANI, Dastidar defended the rebellion, claiming the situation in West Bengal had been “getting from bad to worse" and raising concerns over governance and alleged financial irregularities.The developments have triggered one of the biggest internal crises faced by the TMC in recent years, with the confrontation between the party leadership and the rebel MPs now moving into a legal and constitutional battle over anti-defection provisions and parliamentary recognition.
