Sudip Bandyopadhyay’s meeting with BJP minister fuels fresh TMC revolt buzz

At a time when it seems that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) internal rebellion is going to spill over from the West Bengal Assembly to the Parliament, a meeting between senior TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Union Minister Bhupender Yadav in Delhi fuelled fresh speculation that the veteran leader may join the dissident group, which is seeking recognition as a separate faction in Parliament.

Accompanied by another rebel TMC MP, Shatabdi Roy, Bandyopadhyay held the meeting with the Union Minister at his Nehru Marg residence in the afternoon on Saturday (June 13).

Meeting fuels speculation

The meeting comes amid claims made by rebel MPs, led by Kakoli Ghosh Dasdidar, that they would meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday to seek recognition as the "real TMC".

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Party supremo and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been struggling to keep her flock together ever since the BJP stormed to power in West Bengal for the first time in the last Assembly elections, ending the 15-year-rule of her party.

Rebels eye recognition

Rebel MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia has claimed that 19 of the TMC's 28 Lok Sabha MPs are backing the breakaway faction. The group has also indicated that it would support the BJP-led NDA in Parliament once it secures official recognition.

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Against this backdrop, the interaction between Bandyopadhyay and Yadav has fuelled fresh political speculation. A veteran parliamentarian and multiple-term MP from Kolkata Uttar, Bandyopadhyay has long been regarded as a key link between the TMC leadership and Delhi's political establishment.

Assembly split backdrop

The developments come after 64 of the TMC's 80 MLAs in the West Bengal Assembly broke away from the Mamata Banerjee-led camp and secured recognition from Speaker Rathindra Bose. The dissident bloc's leader, Ritabrata Banerjee, has since been recognised as the Leader of Opposition, though the decision remains under challenge before the Calcutta High Court.

Reacting sharply, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh accused Bandyopadhyay of putting personal ambition ahead of party interests.

Kunal Ghosh's attack

"Able leaders like Tapas Roy and Sajal Ghosh left the party because of Sudip da's personal insecurities and his lust for power and position within the party. I was suspended earlier from the party for speaking against him and in favour of senior leaders like Tapas da. Let the leadership realise now what kind of person they supported before," Ghosh said.

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"Earlier this week, when the CID raided the premises housing Mamata Banerjee's residence, I received a call from Sudip da... Instead, Sudip da has now reached the BJP's doorstep,” he added.

BJP minister Tapas Roy also criticised the leaders, saying, "Whatever is happening is for the best."

(With agency inputs)