‘Khela Hobe…’: TMC Crisis Deepens As Rebel MPs Seek Control Of Party Symbol, Name

Published 16 June 2026 · politics

‘Khela Hobe…’: TMC Crisis Deepens As Rebel MPs Seek Control Of Party Symbol, Name Published By, Last Updated: June 16, 2026, 10:54 IST Senior rebel

‘Khela Hobe…’: TMC Crisis Deepens As Rebel MPs Seek Control Of Party Symbol, Name Published By, Last Updated: June 16, 2026, 10:54 IST Senior rebel leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay said that the faction would approach the courts to establish itself as the "real" TMC. Rapid Read Rebel TMC MPs merged with the NCPI. (ANI) TMC Unrest: Tensions continue to mount for the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) following a crushing defeat in the recenlty held assembly polls as rebel MPs indicated that they may soon stake a claim to the party’s name and election symbol, potentially triggering a legal battle. A day after 20 dissident TMC lawmakers announced their merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), rebel MP Arup Chakraborty asserted that the breakaway faction had not abandoned the TMC but was attempting to “rectify" the party. He asserted that the group would seek recognition as the real TMC and stake claim to its iconic twin-flower election symbol. “We have not left TMC; we’re in TMC and trying to rectify the party. Why did it get damaged, that is not being discussed. We will fight for the party symbol; we have 20 members, why should we not fight for the symbol," Chakraborty said as quoted by news agency PTI, adding that a “new game" had begun in West Bengal politics.

“A new game has started… ‘Khela Hobe’," he added, claiming that the move would bring development and employment to West Bengal. However, the Mamata Banerjee-led outfit termed the move illegal under the anti-defection law. Last week on Sunday, 20 rebel TMC MPs met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and announced that they were merging with the NCPI, a Tripura-based registered unrecognised political party. The group also sought a separate seating arrangement in Parliament. Attacking the TMC chief, Chakraborty said, “Mamata Banerjee is scared; she can’t even call a meeting of the party. She could not even hold a meeting in her constituency before the election." Chakraborty also said that Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Sudip Bandyopadhyay were the “leaders" of their group. Senior rebel leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay said that the faction would approach the courts to establish itself as the “real" TMC and claim ownership of the party’s symbol. The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC strongly opposed the move, arguing that it violates the anti-defection law. Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose said the Constitution’s Tenth Schedule makes it clear that a political party itself must merge or split before legislators can seek protection from disqualification.