‘TMC Cracks Widening’: NDA Leaders Seize on Reports of 20 Trinamool MPs Backing Centre

New Delhi: Reports that nearly 20 Trinamool Congress MPs have allegedly extended support to the NDA government have triggered a fresh political storm, with leaders from the ruling alliance claiming the development reflects deepening divisions within the West Bengal ruling party.

Reacting to the reports, Sanjay Kumar Jha said the situation pointed to a serious lack of internal democracy within the Trinamool Congress.

Drawing a sharp analogy, the JD(U) leader said the party appeared to be "collapsing like a house of cards," adding that long-standing allegations surrounding the party's functioning were now surfacing publicly.

Bihar minister Dilip Kumar Jaiswal also targeted the Trinamool leadership, claiming that growing dissatisfaction among party members was a consequence of its style of governance in West Bengal.

According to him, internal unrest has intensified, leading several leaders and lawmakers to distance themselves from the party's leadership.

Meanwhile, JD(U) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan alleged that dissent within the Trinamool had reached senior levels. He claimed that several prominent leaders had expressed discomfort with the leadership of Mamata Banerjee and pointed to reports suggesting that a separate group of MPs had held discussions with senior BJP leader Bhupender Yadav.

BJP spokesperson Yamini Sharma described the reported rebellion as evidence of growing frustration within the party ranks. She alleged that Trinamool legislators and MPs were increasingly unhappy with what she termed the party's anti-people and anti-democratic policies.

Adding to the criticism, BJP leader T.R. Sriniwas cited remarks reportedly made by senior Trinamool MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who is said to have complained about being unable to work effectively for her constituency.

Sriniwas claimed that a breakaway faction was emerging within the Trinamool and alleged that around 20 MPs had communicated their willingness to form a separate group and offer unconditional support to the NDA. According to him, the lawmakers had reportedly approached Om Birla seeking recognition as a distinct parliamentary bloc.

The controversy gained momentum after reports emerged that Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar had indicated that nearly 20 Trinamool Lok Sabha MPs were prepared to support the NDA, raising speculation about a possible split within the party's parliamentary ranks.

The development follows recent signs of internal discord within the Trinamool Congress. Reports from West Bengal suggested that a significant number of party MLAs had opposed the leadership's choice for a key Assembly position, highlighting growing tensions within the organisation.

While the Trinamool Congress has not officially responded to the latest claims, the allegations have added a new dimension to the political battle between the ruling NDA and the opposition party ahead of crucial electoral contests.
 

With inputs from IANS