Saayoni Ghosh, Yusuf Pathan Lead List of TMC MPs Moving Away from Mamata Banerjee Camp

Kolkata: An army of Trinamool Congress leaders is rising against Mamata Banerjee. Reports suggest that this list includes names ranging from MP Saayoni Ghosh to former cricketer Yusuf Pathan. The rebellion within the TMC is expected to intensify with a group of around 19 dissident MPs are expected to join revel faction. The list of breakaway MPs include senior leaders Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Yusuf Pathan and Saayoni Ghosh, among others.

What is there in the letter?

The letter, submitted to the Lok Sabha Speaker's office, reportedly bears the signatures of 19 MPs. Media reports, citing sources, include Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Satabdi Roy, Bapi Haldar, Dr. Sharmila Sarkar, Prasun Bandyopadhyay, Jagdish Barma Basunia, Asit Kumar Mal, Arup Chakraborty, Rachna Banerjee, and Saayoni Ghosh.

The other signatories to the letter include Khalilur Rahaman, Abu Taher Khan, Yusuf Pathan, Mitali Bag, Mala Roy, Kalipada Soren, Deepak Adhikari, June Malia, and Partha Bhowmick. There has long been speculation that 20 MPs might claim to be a separate faction from the TMC. It was said that the final list was being held up due to the wait for another senior MP.

What about the resignation of MP's?

In addition to the Lok Sabha, Mamata Banerjee is also facing ongoing difficulties in the Rajya Sabha. On Thursday, Koyal Malik, the party's fourth Rajya Sabha MP, resigned. Significantly, this is a setback for the party in just four days. With this, the party's number of MPs in the upper house has dropped to nine.

Earlier, Sukhendu Shekhar Ray, Sushmita Dev, and Prakash Barik had resigned as MPs. Ray has also resigned from all TMC posts. With this, the Mamata Banerjee-led party now faces an existential crisis.

Rebels rise in the Assembly

Ritabrata Banerjee, who is supporting the rebel faction in the Assembly, said that the number of leaders in his faction has increased to 64. Notably, the TMC won 80 seats in the elections. If the figures prove accurate, the party will be left with only 16 MLAs. Furthermore, the number of members in both houses of Parliament will also decline rapidly.