Trinamool Congress rocked by mass defection as 19 MPs submit resignation letters

Nineteen members of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal formally handed a list of their names to the Lok Sabha speaker’s office on 18 May, demanding recognition as a separate parliamentary group. The rebels include senior figures such as Yusuf Pathan, Sayani Ghosh, Shatabdi Roy, Deepak Adhikari and Rachna Banerjee. Their departure is being described as a historic shift that could significantly weaken TMC’s strength in the Parliament.

Party leaders have condemned the move, accusing the defectors of seeking BJP affiliation and abandoning the party in a crisis. While many of the rebels have signed the letter, senior leader Shatrughna Sinha did not sign and reiterated his loyalty to TMC and its chief, Mamata Banerjee.

The episode underscores deepening internal turmoil within the ruling party of West Bengal and may reshape the state’s political dynamics ahead of upcoming elections.