'We Were There Only For Show': Rebel TMC MP Alleges Exclusion, Says Complaints Went Unaddressed

Last Updated:June 11, 2026, 15:43 IST

A rebel TMC MP alleged exclusion from key decisions, restricted parliamentary functioning and inaction on complaints amid the party's escalating internal split.

A rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP has alleged widespread dissatisfaction within the party, claiming elected representatives were sidelined from decision-making, denied access to the top leadership, and reduced to playing a symbolic role in parliamentary politics.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, one of the MPs who signed the letter backing the breakaway faction in Parliament outlined a series of grievances against the party leadership, offering a glimpse into the discontent that has fuelled the ongoing crisis within the Mamata Banerjee-led outfit.

According to the MP, it was nearly impossible to directly reach TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, irrespective of the urgency of the issue.

The parliamentarian further alleged that complaints made against individuals within the party were often relayed to the very people concerned instead of being addressed through internal mechanisms.

The MP also claimed that parliamentarians faced restrictions when attempting to pursue development-related work in their constituencies through the Union government.

“We were merely there for show," the MP said.

The rebel lawmaker alleged that approaching Union ministers regarding constituency development often attracted criticism from the party leadership, limiting MPs’ ability to effectively represent their constituents.

The MP further claimed that elected representatives were not allowed to raise questions freely and that suggestions regarding parliamentary interventions were routinely rejected.

“We were merely there for show," the MP reiterated, alleging that the role of MPs within the organisation had been steadily diminished.

According to the MP, parliamentarians were also excluded from key organisational meetings and had little role in shaping policy or political decisions within the party.

On the issue of corruption, the MP alleged that concerns raised about certain leaders failed to elicit any meaningful response from the leadership.

The lawmaker claimed that whenever allegations involving influential figures were brought to the attention of senior leaders, the response was often that such people would exist in every political party and that no action would be taken against them.

The allegations come amid an unprecedented crisis within the TMC that has seen splits emerge both in the West Bengal Assembly and in Parliament.

The developments have exposed a striking contradiction within the party.

While a large section of rebel MLAs in West Bengal has positioned itself as a “constructive opposition" against the BJP in the state Assembly, a significant section of TMC MPs has openly aligned itself with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre.

The legislative split became formal on June 3 when expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee, backed by 58 of the party’s 80 legislators, secured recognition as the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly from Speaker Rathindra Bose.

The support exceeded the two-thirds threshold required for legislative recognition of a breakaway faction.

Just days later, a separate split emerged in New Delhi, and a group comprising 20 of the TMC’s 28 Lok Sabha MPs, led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, submitted a communication to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressing alignment with the BJP-led NDA.

About the Author

Kamalika Sengupta

Kamalika Sengupta is the Editor (East) at CNN-News18 / News18.com, focusing on politics, defence, and women’s issues. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with over 20 years of experience reporting...Read More

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