From Saayoni Ghosh To Yusuf Pathan, Why Mamata's Experiment To Turn Stars Into MPs Backfired

Published 10 June 2026 · politics

From Saayoni Ghosh To Yusuf Pathan, Why Mamata's Experiment To Turn Stars Into MPs Backfired Written By, Last Updated: June 10, 2026, 20:36 IST For

From Saayoni Ghosh To Yusuf Pathan, Why Mamata's Experiment To Turn Stars Into MPs Backfired Written By, Last Updated: June 10, 2026, 20:36 IST For years, Mamata relied on star power to broaden the TMC's appeal, bringing popular faces from cinema, television and sports into politics. Rapid Read News18 had earlier reported the names of 19 of the 20 rebel MPs aligned with the Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar camp. Following Mamata Banerjee’s defeat in the recent West Bengal Assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) appears headed for a split in Parliament, with 20 rebel MPs informing Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla about the formation of a separate parliamentary bloc under the leadership of Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and extending support to the BJP-led NDA. The development comes after a parallel rebellion in the Assembly, where dissident TMC legislators claimed the backing of 58 MLAs and defied the party leadership by supporting Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition instead of the TMC’s official nominee, Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay. News18 had earlier reported the names of 19 of the 20 rebel MPs aligned with the Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar camp. What stands out is that nine of them are celebrities — actors, sportspersons and cultural figures — whom Mamata Banerjee personally handpicked and elevated to the Lok Sabha. For years, Mamata relied on star power to broaden the TMC’s appeal, bringing popular faces from cinema, television and sports into politics. The strategy delivered electoral success and helped the party dominate Bengal’s political landscape. But political loyalty is often tested during moments of crisis. As Mamata faces the biggest challenge of her political career, many of the celebrities she trusted with parliamentary tickets are now part of the rebellion that threatens to weaken her grip on the party.

Here’s a look at the celebrity MPs who once symbolised Mamata’s winning formula and are now at the centre of the TMC’s biggest internal revolt. Yusuf Pathan A member of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup-winning squads, Yusuf Pathan entered politics ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Despite criticism from rivals for being an “outsider", the former cricketer defeated Congress veteran Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in Baharampur by over 85,000 votes. Saayoni Ghosh The actress joined the TMC in 2021 and quickly became one of the party’s most visible campaigners. Though she lost her Assembly debut from Asansol, Mamata Banerjee her as Youth TMC president and later fielded her from Jadavpur, where she secured a landslide victory of more than two lakh votes. She was recently made president of the TMC women’s wing. Rachana Banerjee A household name in Bengal through the hit reality show Didi No. 1, Rachana Banerjee entered politics ahead of the 2024 elections. Mamata banked on her popularity among women voters and fielded her from Hooghly in a high-profile contest against BJP leader and actress Locket Chatterjee. Shatrughan Sinha The actor-turned-politician has had stints in the BJP and Congress before joining the TMC in 2022. Mamata Banerjee fielded him in the Asansol Lok Sabha bypoll, where he won by more than three lakh votes, giving the veteran leader a fresh political base in Bengal. Kalipada Soren Known by his pen name Kherwal Soren, the Santali writer and playwright is a Sahitya Akademi Award and Padma Shri recipient. Mamata chose him for the tribal-dominated Jhargram seat in 2024, continuing her strategy of fielding respected cultural and intellectual figures.