Rebel MPs, NDA Support, ED Summons: 10 Flashpoints Driving TMC's Turmoil
Rebel MPs, NDA Support, ED Summons: 10 Flashpoints Driving TMC's Turmoil Published By, Last Updated: June 15, 2026, 12:01 IST TMC's crisis deepened as 20
Rebel MPs, NDA Support, ED Summons: 10 Flashpoints Driving TMC's Turmoil Published By, Last Updated: June 15, 2026, 12:01 IST TMC's crisis deepened as 20 rebel MPs backed the NDA via NCPI, sought separate Lok Sabha status, and Abhishek Banerjee appeared before the ED. File photos of Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar/Mamata Banerjee/Abhishek Banerjee (PTI) The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has witnessed one of the most dramatic political upheavals in its history over the past 24 hours, with a group of 20 Lok Sabha MPs rebelling against the Mamata Banerjee-led leadership, merging with a little-known political outfit and pledging support to the BJP-led NDA. The developments have triggered a fierce political battle between Mamata Banerjee’s party in West Bengal and its rivals, while also raising questions about the future of the party’s parliamentary strength. The crisis deepened further on Monday when TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Kolkata in connection with the alleged school jobs scam case. His appearance came just a day after he was questioned by the West Bengal CID in a separate matter related to the alleged forgery of signatures of TMC MLAs. From political defections and parliamentary manoeuvring to corruption probes and public sparring among senior leaders, the developments have unfolded rapidly since Sunday, creating a turbulent backdrop for West Bengal politics.
THE WEST BENGAL AND TMC CRISIS: TOP DEVELOPMENTS SINCE A DAY 1. Twenty TMC MPs announce rebellion: A group of 20 Lok Sabha MPs broke ranks with the Trinamool Congress, claiming the support of more than two-thirds of the party’s parliamentary strength and initiating a major revolt against the party leadership. 2. Rebels merge with NCPI: Instead of joining the BJP directly, the dissident MPs announced their merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), a registered but unrecognised political party that had previously contested the 2023 Tripura Assembly elections. 3. NDA support declared: Rebel MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said the breakaway group would support the Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Parliament after merging with the NCPI. 4. MPs seek separate seating in Lok Sabha: The dissident lawmakers met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and sought separate seating arrangements, arguing that more than two-thirds of TMC MPs were part of the new grouping. 5. Obscure NCPI thrust into national spotlight: The NCPI, whose candidates performed poorly in the 2023 Tripura elections and whose registered address is in Howrah, West Bengal, suddenly emerged at the centre of national political attention following the merger. 6. Legal strategy behind the merger highlighted: Political observers and leaders suggested the merger route was chosen because it offered a legally safer pathway than forming a separate parliamentary bloc while avoiding immediate anti-defection complications.
The BriefWire