TMC chief Mamata Banerjee is battling an unprecedented crisis after Trinamool faces a rift with rebel faction MPs led by Lok Sabha MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar decided to write to Speaker Om Birla declaring support for the NDA. Kakoli claims to have the support of 20 MPs, which means that only eight MPs are with Mamata Banerjee.
So far, the names of 17 'rebels' have been made public. They include Kakoli, Prasun Banerjee, Khalilur Rahman, Asit Mal, Arup Chakraborty, Sharmila Sarkar, Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, Abu Taher, Kalipada Soren, June Malia, Sajda Ahmed, Yusuf Pathan, Dev, Rachana Banerjee, Bapi Halder and Partha Bhowmik. Shatrughan Singh, Pratima Mondal and Mitali Bag are said to be leaning towards the rebel camp.
Dastidar claimed that 20 MPs of the party have decided to write to the speaker.
Only eight people, including the parliamentary party leader Abhishek Banerjee, remain 'loyal' to Mamata in the Lok Sabha. Besides Abhishek Banerjee, Kalyan Banerjee, Saugata Roy, Sayani Ghosh, Mahua Moitra and Kirti Azad are staying loyal to Mamata. According to local media reports, Sudip Banerjee and Mala Roy are also leaning towards the party leader.
In this context, a statement made by Saugata Roy against the top leadership is gaining attention. Roy, who chose to stay with Mamata, however, minced no words in attacking the party leadership.
Roy has clearly alleged that there was no precedent of holding discussions within the party before taking serious organisational and political decisions. “So far, the party has been following what Mamata and Abhishek said,” he said, adding that despite being a senior MP, he was never informed about any important decision or organisational changes. “Abhishek was made the Parliamentary party leader without asking me,” he added.
He also alleged that the reason for Kakoli’s anger was more personal. He claimed that there was no ideological reason behind Kakoli’s anger, stating it was all for personal power. “Kakoli wanted to nominate her son as the party candidate from Barasat, but the party did not give in to her demand. She was also removed from the post of 'Chief Whip' of the party. Kakoli is disappointed and has spoken out against the party because she did not get these personal benefits. All her allegations have no merit,” Roy added.
