Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) was jolted on Friday by speculation of an impending split in its parliamentary wing, as several of the party's 28 Lok Sabha MPs converged on Delhi. This prompted party chief Mamata Banerjee to clip her nephew and national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee's wings in a last-ditch attempt to stall a repeat of the rebellion that occurred in the state assembly, where 58 MLAs broke away.
Leadership Overhaul
In a strategic move, Mamata overhauled the party organization from top to bottom during a national working committee (NWC) meeting at her Kalighat residence. She appointed Rajya Sabha MPs Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen as joint national secretaries, directly diluting Abhishek's authority. The Diamond Harbour MP's style of functioning is said to be a primary reason for the internal unrest, with the rebel bloc alleging that he rarely interacts with party workers and operates in a syndicate-driven silo.
Potential Split and Anti-Defection Law
A two-thirds split to beat the anti-defection law would require at least 19 MPs to break away. Sources indicated that some MPs still in Bengal are likely to reach the national capital next week. Mamata is scheduled to arrive in Delhi on June 8, along with Abhishek and Derek O'Brien, to attend the INDIA bloc meeting.
Among the disgruntled MPs, Jagadish Chandra Basunia from Cooch Behar is already in Delhi, ostensibly to attend to an ailing relative. Two actor-MPs are expected to reach the capital next week, sources said. Barasat MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who continued her tirade against the party brass on Friday, denied any role in engineering a parliamentary split. "I contest allegations that I am trying to create a rift within the parliamentary party and trying to influence other MPs. I am in Kolkata and have not been to Delhi," she said.
Support for Mamata
Four Lok Sabha MPs — Abhishek, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Kalyan Banerjee, and Mala Roy — attended the NWC meeting. Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra and Dum Dum MP Saugata Roy were not present but have thrown their weight behind Mamata, as has Bardhaman-Durgapur MP Kirti Azad. "Operation Lotus is BJP's politics. They try to break parties using money power and threats. They have done it in Maharashtra and Bihar. We have to face it. Initially, it will be very disheartening, but if one can hold out, then we can absorb the immediate impact," Saugata said.
Murshidabad MP Abu Taher Khan stated, "Irrespective of who is in control, I will toe the party line and do what the party asks me to do." The remaining party MPs did not spell out their stance.
Expelled MLA's Comments
Expelled first-time MLA Ritabrata Banerjee, who led the split in the party's legislative wing and has since been named leader of the opposition in the assembly, said he had not spoken to any MP in the past seven days and could not say what they would do. "Nobody can say what will happen tomorrow. Have patience," ANI quoted him as saying.
