The Last Piece Of The Puzzle: Why TMC Rebels Need A Heavyweight On Their Side

Last Updated:June 12, 2026, 12:29 IST

The rebels believe the addition of a prominent face would make it harder for the top brass to dismiss the revolt as a rebellion led by disgruntled backbenchers

Days after claiming that more than two-thirds of the Trinamool Congress (TMC)’s Lok Sabha MPs are ready to break away from Mamata Banerjee, the rebel camp has still not formally sought recognition as a separate parliamentary bloc.

The reason, according to sources quoted by The Indian Express, is simple: they are waiting for a heavyweight.

According to the IE report, the rebel faction led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar has been in touch with a senior TMC MP whose signature has not yet been added to the list. The rebels believe the addition of a prominent face would significantly strengthen their case before Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and make it harder for the top brass of the TMC to dismiss the revolt as a rebellion led by disgruntled backbenchers.

Strength In Numbers

Publicly, the rebels claim they already have the support of 19 of TMC’s 28 Lok Sabha MPs, comfortably crossing the two-thirds threshold required to seek protection from anti-defection provisions. News18 had accessed the letter by the rebels, which has been signed by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Satabdi Roy, Bapi Haldar, Dr Sharmila Sarkar, Prasun Bandyopadhyay, Jagadish Barma Basunia, Asit Kumar Mal, Arup Chakraborty, Rachna Banerjee, Saayoni Ghosh, Khalilur Rahaman, Abu Taher Khan, Yusuf Pathan, Mitali Bag, Mala Roy, Kalipada Soren, Deepak Adhikari, June Malia and Partha Bhowmick.

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Speaking about the letter to CNN-News18, Arup Chakraborty said, “We submitted this letter to the speaker to save the reputation of TMC. Why was Mamata silent when all things were happening? She formed a party; she is the party leader. Why did she remain mum? Now the train has left the station. Why didn’t she call for a party meeting? BJP will do their own job, TMC will do their job, and other parties will do their jobs. BJP is ready to help us for the nation."

Ordinarily, crossing that mark should have been enough to immediately approach the Speaker and seek recognition as a separate group. Instead, the rebels have chosen to wait.

That suggests the battle is no longer about arithmetic.

Why A Senior MP Matters

A rebellion led by first-time MPs or younger leaders can always be portrayed by the parent party as temporary dissatisfaction. However, a rebellion backed by one of the party’s established veterans is far more dangerous.

Such a move would show that dissatisfaction extends beyond newer MPs and has reached the party’s traditional leadership. It would also lend credibility to the rebels’ charge that the crisis is about the way the party is being run rather than individual grievances. Third, it could trigger a bandwagon effect, encouraging fence-sitters to jump ship.

ALSO READ | Who Is Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar? Once A Mamata Confidante, Now Face Of TMC’s Rebellion

This explains why the rebels appear willing to delay their formal move despite repeatedly insisting they already have the numbers.

Shadow Of The Old Guard

The search for a senior face comes at a time when some of TMC’s most prominent veterans have openly voiced concerns about the party’s direction.

Senior leader Saugata Roy has publicly acknowledged that the party is facing a crisis and has pointed to complaints regarding the functioning of Abhishek Banerjee. Kalyan Banerjee has also publicly criticised the party leadership while insisting he remains loyal to Mamata Banerjee.

Neither leader has joined the rebellion yet. But their criticism has created the impression that the rebels’ complaints are not confined to one faction.

That is precisely why the rebel camp wants a prominent veteran on its side. Such a move would bridge the gap between parliamentary rebels and the party’s old guard.

About the Author

Apoorva Misra

Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, ...Read More

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