Yusuf Pathan, Shatrughan Sinha among 19 TMC MPs backing NDA: Sources

The political crisis engulfing the Trinamool Congress deepened on Wednesday after a group of 19 Lok Sabha MPs reportedly informed Speaker Om Birla of their decision to align themselves with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), marking the most significant parliamentary challenge to Mamata Banerjee's leadership since the party's formation.

According to sources, the group includes several high-profile Trinamool leaders, among them former cricketer Yusuf Pathan, veteran actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Saayoni Ghosh. The MPs are understood to have sought recognition as a separate bloc in the Lok Sabha while expressing support for the NDA at the Centre.

The move is being spearheaded by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who has emerged as the public face of the dissident camp. A long-time associate of Mamata Banerjee, she has argued that growing concerns over governance, law and order and unemployment in West Bengal compelled her and other leaders to break ranks with the party leadership.

The rebellion carries significant legal implications. Under the anti-defection provisions of the Constitution, a breakaway faction must command the support of at least two-thirds of a party's elected representatives to qualify for protection from disqualification. With the Trinamool holding 28 Lok Sabha seats, the support of 19 MPs would place the dissident group at the critical threshold required to seek recognition under the merger provisions of the law.

The parliamentary revolt comes on the heels of an escalating rebellion within the West Bengal Assembly. What began as dissent among a section of legislators has rapidly evolved into a larger struggle over the future direction and control of the party. Rebel leaders claim their support base among Trinamool MLAs has expanded substantially in recent days, further intensifying pressure on the party leadership.

The crisis has also been compounded by recent resignations from the Rajya Sabha. Senior leaders Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Sushmita Dev have both severed ties with the party, adding to perceptions of growing instability within Trinamool ranks.

Political observers view the developments as a watershed moment for the ruling party. If the dissident MPs succeed in securing formal recognition and legal protection under anti-defection rules, the shift could alter the parliamentary balance and significantly strengthen the NDA's position in Bengal. For Mamata Banerjee, the challenge is no longer limited to containing internal dissent but extends to defending the party's organisational unity and political legitimacy at both the state and national levels.