TMC split widens: Are Saayoni Ghosh, Shatrughan Sinha joining rebel camp? Here's what we know
Internal strife within the Trinamool Congress continues to make new revelations everyday as their MPs and MLAs keep deserting supermo Mamata Banerjee and second-in-command Abhishek
Internal strife within the Trinamool Congress continues to make new revelations everyday as their MPs and MLAs keep deserting supermo Mamata Banerjee and second-in-command Abhishek after the party's rout in the Assembly Elections that saw the BJP come to power for the first time in West Bengal with a thumping majority. 58-60 MLAs out of their 80 in the West Bengal Assembly have already announced that they have chosen Ritabrata Banerjee as their leader in the House, going against the decision made by Mamata-Abhishek, who had chosen party veteran Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as the LoP. The West Bengal Assembly Speaker has also granted this group the official status of the Opposition in the House and freed up the office of the LoP for Ritabrata. After their MLAs abandoned ship, now the TMC is facing a similar situation in New Delhi as well, as around 19 MPs (out of their 29) have decided to break away from the TMC and support the NDA. A meeting was held on Tuesday between 13 TMC MPs (led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar) and Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari in New Delhi. Quick answers to key questions • 5 QUESTIONS 1 What is causing the split within the Trinamool Congress (TMC)?
⌵ The split within the TMC is primarily due to internal strife following a significant electoral defeat, leading many MPs and MLAs to abandon Mamata Banerjee's leadership and align with rebel factions. 2 Why are some TMC members supporting the NDA? ⌵ Some TMC members are supporting the NDA as they believe it aligns better with their political future following the party's recent electoral failure and ongoing internal conflicts. 3 How many MLAs have turned against the TMC leadership? ⌵ Approximately 58-60 out of 80 MLAs in the West Bengal Assembly have declared their support for Ritabrata Banerjee's faction, opposing the official leadership of Mamata and Abhishek Banerjee. 4 Should TMC leaders consider merging with the Congress? ⌵ While there are speculations about a potential merger with Congress, TMC leaders have publicly dismissed such talks, stating they prefer to remain independent and assert their identity. 5 What implications does the TMC split have for West Bengal politics? ⌵ The TMC split creates a significant realignment in West Bengal politics, as it divides the opposition against the BJP and may affect future electoral strategies and alliances. On Monday, Ghosh Dastidar told PTI that she, along with 19 other TMC MPs, have decided to break away from the party and lend their support to the NDA.
