6 rebel MPs, over 50% MLAs want to return to Mamata camp: Kunal Ghosh's big claim
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh on Monday claimed that six rebel MPs and more than half of the party's rebel MLAs are in direct
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh on Monday claimed that six rebel MPs and more than half of the party's rebel MLAs are in direct touch with Mamata Banerjee and want to return to her camp, but are being prevented from doing so due to police pressure backed by the BJP. Ghosh said the Mamata Banerjee faction was in constant contact with several leaders who had joined the rival camp after the party's crushing defeat in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Read Full Story "Six MPs and more than 50 per cent of the MLAs are in touch with Mamata Didi. I do not want to reveal specific numbers or names because I don't want others to take political advantage of it," he said.
Claiming that the rebels were under pressure, Ghosh alleged that law enforcement agencies were being misused to stop them from switching back. "The problem is the misuse of the police, with the BJP supporting it. That is why it is taking time. Otherwise, if the police pressure is removed even for a day, we can bring out a rally of 56 to 58 MLAs here within 24 hours," he claimed. The remarks come amid a prolonged power struggle within the Trinamool Congress following its defeat in the Assembly elections in May. The party split after a large group of MLAs rallied behind rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee, who was later recognised as the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.
At the national level, 20 of the party's 28 Lok Sabha MPs also broke away to join the NDA-backed Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), significantly weakening Mamata Banerjee's parliamentary strength. The internal battle has also reached the Election Commission, where both factions are staking claim to the Trinamool Congress name, election symbol, organisational control, assets and funds. Mamata Banerjee has urged the poll panel to conclude the proceedings quickly, arguing that the rival camp has failed to respond despite repeated extensions. The latest claim by Ghosh also comes on a day Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's grandnephew, Chandra Kumar Bose, resigned from the Trinamool Congress, citing personal reasons.
Bose had joined the TMC after quitting the BJP ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The Mamata Banerjee camp has repeatedly maintained that several rebel leaders are eager to return. Last month, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee challenged dissident leaders to rejoin Mamata Banerjee, saying he would resign from his party post within an hour if they did. The rebel camp, however, dismissed the offer, alleging that the leadership had already chosen family over long-time party workers. Ends
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