Kolkata: While rebel members of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have extended support to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), many are opposed to replicating the Maharashtra model in West Bengal. The Maharashtra model refers to the 2022 split in the Shiv Sena, where two-thirds of legislators defected, avoided disqualification under the anti-defection law, and staked claim to the party's name and symbol.
BJP's Claim on Rebel MPs
Senior BJP leaders in Delhi have claimed that as many as 19 TMC Lok Sabha MPs have signed a letter to be submitted to Speaker Om Birla, who was in Chandigarh on Tuesday and will take a final decision. With the numbers backing them, the rebel MPs can also approach the Election Commission to stake claim to the TMC's party name and symbol.
Internal Rift and Reactions
Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, who resigned from the Rajya Sabha, spoke about the internal rift during an interview with a private Bengali news channel. He said, "Initially, there was confusion about which path to take. Bhupender Yadav (Union minister) and Suvendu Adhikari clarified this. The Maharashtra model came up. There was a discussion about former CJI DY Chandrachud's verdict (the 2023 Constitution bench verdict in the Shiv Sena case). Bhupender (Yadav) mentioned that they had consulted constitutional analysts, and he was explaining what they had said to the MPs."
Before boarding a flight to Kolkata from Delhi, Birbhum MP Satabdi Roy told TOI: "Kakolidi (Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar) is giving all the interviews regarding the process and what is going on. Let her speak. I am blank and not thinking much."
Actor-MP Dev said: "I will reserve my comment. I hardly attend Parliament. I didn't even attend the voting session for the Women's Reservation Bill. Besides, my shoots are on." Earlier, stepping out of CM Adhikari's administrative meeting in Kolaghat, Dev stated: "I am not joining the new TMC. As long as Mamata Banerjee is alive, I am with her."
Actor and TMC MP Rachna Banerjee said: "I am in Malaysia now. I will return on June 15. I will decide after I talk to the honorable CM."
Other Rebel MPs' Stances
Other rebel MPs also sounded ambiguous about their future course. Jaynagar MP Pratima Mondal said: "I have neither signed the letter online nor offline. I am in Kolkata." Murshidabad MP Abu Taher Khan stated: "I haven't signed. We are not getting into all this trouble." Mathurapur MP Bapi Halder claimed: "I am among those MPs who signed." Burdwan East MP Sharmila Sarkar said she had "nothing to say."
TMC's Rajya Sabha MP and actor Koel Mallick on Tuesday dispelled rumours of her resignation. When asked if she had sought an appointment with the RS chairperson, she replied "no."
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