As the rebel MPs of Trinamool Congress staked their claim on the party, Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Vardhan Shringla described the ordeal as "natural" as its leaders abandoned the party after it lost power in West Bengal, the only state in which it has presence.

Speaking with ANI, Shringla reasoned that the "irregularities, malpractices, and misgovernance" of TMC have also driven its people to "disassociate" with the party.

"It is natural that this party is imploding. It is a one-state party, and when that state was lost, people started abandoning it," he said.

"Secondly, irregularities, malpractices, and misgovernance have been the hallmark of TMC. Many members of the party are trying to disassociate themselves from all of this. It is a good thing that they are recognising that the BJP will provide the change that people in Bengal want in terms of development, governance, strong administration, and security," he added.

Just over a month after the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election results on May 4 delivered a stunning defeat to the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), the political landscape in the state has transformed dramatically. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a landslide win with 208 seats, ending the Trinamool's 15-year rule and reducing Mamata Banerjee's party to around 80 seats. What followed was not post-poll reflection but a rapid, multi-level exodus from the party. Rebel groups emerged swiftly, with around 60 of the 80 MLAs aligning under figures like Ritabrata Banerjee. Roughly 20 of the 28 Lok Sabha MPs, led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, moved to support the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Over 100 councillors have also resigned or switched sides.

Resignations, rebels, resentments. 

The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool is facing an existential crisis and it shows no signs of abating.

Lok Sabha MP Satabdi Roy, who is part of the rebel camp, told NDTV that a letter signed by a total of 19 Trinamool lawmakers has been submitted to Speaker Om Birla. A 20th - a 'big name', sources said - could sign soon. 

The rebels, the letter states, wish to distance themselves from the party and align with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

"We signed (the letter). It's proof, we have that magic figure. I don't have any idea about the next meeting but I think it is already given to speaker Om Birla ji," Roy, a former Tollywood actor, told NDTV. 

Amid the ongoing political rift within the Trinamool Congress, expelled MLA Sandipan Saha on Friday alleged that former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee failed to take a stand on the party's internal issues involving MP Abhishek Banerjee.

Speaking to ANI on the growing divide within the Trinamool, Saha questioned Mamata Banerjee's handling of the situation and alleged that the party had drifted away from its grassroots workers.

"It is not possible that she (Mamata Banerjee) made a mistake. Maybe she had resolved not to talk on this issue and not take any stand of her own. If only one person runs the party and no suggestion is taken from leaders and workers who have been with them for such a long time, then you get away from the grassroots," Saha said.

Questioning the role of Abhishek Banerjee within the party, Saha said, "Did she not realise that she has given the reins of the party into Abhishek Banerjee's hands? She did not take a stand."

Rebel Trinamool Congress MP Jagadish Barma Basunia on Friday confirmed the validity of the letter containing signatures of 19 party MPs, including him, who reportedly claim to be the main and majority bloc of the party in the Lok Sabha.

According to Basunia, the dissent within the Trinamool had erupted before the results of the Assembly polls, since MPs and senior leaders of the party were not consulted before giving tickets to the candidates.

"Our demand is that we are the 'real Trinamool Congress' and should be given recognition," he told IANS.

Will Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress and Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP) return to the Congress? Amid the unfolding crisis in the Trinamool Congress, there is strong speculation in political circles about the parties that broke away from the Congress planning to return to its fold.

While Congress Organisation General Secretary KC Venugopal on Thursday rejected the Trinamool merger talks as "baseless rumours", the party's senior leader in Maharashtra, Nana Patole, has dropped a clear hint that the move may be afoot.

Patole has said that the "like-minded parties" are preparing to merge with the Congress. "Sharad Pawar and Mamata Banerjee are making up their mind for a merger with the Congress," Patole told reporters, insisting that it will not be an alliance, but a merger.

Dissident TMC MPs will meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday to stake claim to be recognised as the "real TMC", rebel MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia said, claiming that 19 LS members are currently backing the faction.

Basunia, the MP from Cooch Behar and among the lawmakers seeking to support the NDA in the Lok Sabha, told PTI that the group would meet the Speaker on Monday.

"On Monday, we will go to the Speaker, and we have made a claim regarding forming the real TMC vote group. We will ask the Speaker to give recognition to our claim," Basunia said.

The Trinamool Congress' Delhi office was vacated and posters, banners, and images of party chief Mamata Banerjee removed

The TMC office was located at 20, Rajendra Prasad Road in Delhi, but it has now been vacated.

The property is a government residence allotted to MP Partha Bhowmick.

After Bhowmick rebelled and vacated the government bungalow, the TMC was also forced to vacate its office there.

TMC MP Kirti Azad has taken out his state-of-the-art air gun after he said his security was withdrawn amid the ongoing crisis within the Trinamool Congress.

He said he previously had eight security personnel, including Home Guards, who were removed to "intimidate him.

He also said that intimidation is at play when it comes to the 19 party MPs who have written a dissent note to the Lok Sabha Speaker.

Rebel Trinamool Congress MP Arup Chakraborty claimed that around 20 MPs are supporting the dissident faction, asserting the group wants to "rebuild TMC in a new form" while working with a "joint engine government" between the state and the Centre.

Chakraborty said that the Bharatiya Janata Party's support is with the party and the rebel MPs' support would be with the ruling party.

Speaking to ANI, Chakraborty, who is among the MPs demanding separate seating arrangements in Parliament, said, "We have the support of 20 MPs."

Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Satabdi Roy, June Maliah, Saayoni Ghosh, and Yusuf Pathan are among the big names in a group of senior Trinamool Congress leaders who have rebelled against party boss Mamata Banerjee after a disastrous result in the April-May Bengal Assembly election.

NDTV accessed a letter signed by a total of 19 Trinamool lawmakers, some of whom - such as Satabdi Roy and Saayoni Ghosh - were previously staunch supporters of the ex-chief minister.

Among the rebels' major complaints are allegations Mamata Banerjee has lost touch with ground realities, in the state and in the party, and allowed corruption to take root in both. The rebels have also complained about the Trinamool chief's nephew - Abhishek Banerjee, the party's National General Secretary and second-in-command - being given too much power.

"Whatever I say, whatever I do, I do it thoughtfully without any selfish motive," Trinamool Congress MP and actor Shatrughan Sinha said

Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy on Thursday asserted that party supremo and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should be at the "forefront" of the Opposition's fight against the BJP.

His reaction came amid reports of Trinamool's merger with the Congress, which the latter has termed "rumours" and "baseless".

In an interaction with IANS, Saugata Roy said: "I want the Trinamool and Congress to work in a close alliance to remove and defeat the BJP. That is all I want."

"I believe that if we have to fight against the BJP, Mamata Banerjee should be at the forefront. That is all I care about," he added.

The Congress has dubbed as "baseless" the speculation over a possibility of a merger of Trinamool Congress with the Grand Old Party. Speaking to reporters, Congress Organisation General Secretary KC Venugopal rejected the talks as "rumours" and "baseless".

Venugopal described the recent meetings between the Trinamool and the Congress brass as "routine engagement as part of INDIA alliance's discussion".

"How can I respond to rumours and speculation?" he said when asked about the possibility of a merger. "Of course, we will work together against the anti-democratic BJP government," he added.

Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee has been summoned by a Tripura court in an old case dating back to 2021 when he allegedly assaulted some policemen in the state's Khowai district. The incident happened after the West Bengal assembly election and amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The court has told him to appear before it on June 22.

The latest court summon means more difficulties ahead for the leader whose party, the Trinamool Congress, and his aunt, Mamata Banerjee, have been fending off an existential crisis following their defeat in the recent state elections.

First a praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi then a pledge of loyalty to Mamata Banerjee. Veteran actor and Trinamool Congress MP Shatrughan Sinha on Thursday scoffed at the reports of him joining the "rebel" group.

Amid reports that he is one of the signatories in the letter submitted by the Trinamool "rebel" group to Lok Sabha Speaker, Shatughan Sinha's X post congratulating PM Modi on becoming longest serving Indian PM, set the speculation rolling.

'Mamata Banerjee has to decide whether she will keep Abhishek (Banerjee) or me,' key aide Kalyan Banerjee has given an ultimatum amid the Trinamool crisis.

TMC Lok Sabha MP Pratima Mandal has denied reports claiming that she was among the party MPs who allegedly signed a letter extending support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). She challenged the 'rebel faction' to publicly produce any document bearing her signature.

Calling the reports "absolutely fake news," Mondal said she remained committed to the Trinamool and the mandate given to her by the people.

"This is absolutely fake news that is being spread. My constituents might be influenced by this fake news; they might think, 'Why would Pratima Mondal, whom we elected on the twin flowers symbol, leave?' I want to say through your medium that I am in Kolkata. Since the 4th, I haven't even gone to Delhi," Mondal told the news agency ANI.

"If you claim to have 20 MPs, and this news has been circulating for 2-3 days, why don't you show that letter with everyone's signatures in the media? Why don't you release that picture or paper to show if my name is on it? I'm telling you, don't spread fake news and don't mislead the people of my constituency," she said.

"I myself called my MPs asking them to sit for a meeting in Kolkata. But they told me to come to Delhi... I did not receive any message of any such action (of rebelling) from their end. Whatever they were telling me, I did not find that appropriate. That is why I did not go to Delhi... I asked the MPs to meet because at that time, many MLAs were rebelling, and I wanted to talk about how to keep the party together," she added.

She also denied being contacted by any group seeking her support for a move towards the NDA.

Trinamool's Rajya Sabha MP, Babul Supriyo - once the BJP's poster boy for Bengal - has responded to speculation he might join that group with a long Facebook post.

Supriyo, 55, declared himself "tired of media calls asking me which side I am on" question and said: "I am exactly where I am - with the Party & Leader I am !!"

But the popular singer also acknowledged the BJP's "overwhelming mandate" - something Banerjee and her loyalists have refused to do so far, insisting the election had been manipulated to ensure a win for the party. "I shall work with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and use my MPLAD (i.e., the Rs 5 crore funds given to MPs for their constituency)," he said.

NDTV has accessed Prakash Chik Baraik's resignation letter to Rajya Sabha chairman CP Radhakrishan.

"Respected Sir, I do hereby resign from the membership of Rajya Sabha, which may please be accepted with immediate effect. I convey my sincere gratitude to your Excellency, Hon'ble Deputy Chairman and all functionaries of Rajya Sabha Secretariat extending all help and cooperation during my tenure as a Member of the Rajya Sabha," he wrote.

Trinamool Congress MP, Prakash Chik Baraik, has resigned as a member of the Rajya Sabha, the third party MP to quit this week. His resignation comes a day after Sushmita Dev, a former Congress leader who joined the TMC in 2021, quit the party. 

Earlier this week, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray had tendered his resignation from the party as well as the Rajya Sabha.

Another Trinamool MP, Prakash Chik Baraik, has quit the Rajya Sabha amid a deepening crisis for Mamata Banerjee's party.

The Trinamool Congress is confronting one of its most severe internal crises in recent years, marked by a series of resignations from senior figures and an open rebellion within its ranks. The recent Assembly elections defeat has raised questions over the party's future. 

Trinamool's Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose, speaking with NDTV, said despite open rebellion, "there is no Trinamool Congress without Mamata Banerjee." 

Ghose described the departure of Sushmita Dev, who quit the party and the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, as "unfortunate". Ghose said Dev's move was a personal decision concerning her own political future.

Satabdi Roy, Tollywood actor who was brought into politics by Mamata Banerjee, is deputy to Trinamool Congress's rebel 'Chief Whip" Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar. The group of 20 rebel MPs who formed a bloc within the Trinamool, have written to the Speaker Om Birla, saying they would support the NDA -- a decision Roy endorses, but only politically.

Asked whether she felt conflicted, Roy, in an exclusive interview to NDTV's Shiv Aroor, said, "I feel politically I made the right decision... But emotionally and morally I'm wrong... Otherwise I'm done. Good thing" 

Asked what she'd like to say to Mamata Banerjee, Roy delivered a surprise comment: "I miss you Didi!"

Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress, just weeks after the crushing defeat to the BJP, is struggling to contain rebellion within its ranks in the state assembly and parliament.

Mamata Banerjee, Trinamool Crisis - 'Worst Time To Quit, But Entitled To Think For Myself': Sushmita Dev

Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee met Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for one and a half hours on Wednesday amid efforts to strengthen coordination within the opposition INDIA bloc.

According to sources, the Trinamool conveyed during the meeting that it wants a strong alliance and accepts Rahul Gandhi's leadership in the opposition grouping. Congress has made clear that any proposal for a merger must come from the Trinamool and that it is not pushing for such a move. The meeting took place at 10 Janpath in the national capital.

Another Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP, Sushmita Dev, resigned from all party posts, making her the second Rajya Sabha MP from the party to do so this week.

And this is only the third day of the week.

"I do hereby resign from the membership of Rajya Sabha, which may please be accepted with immediate effect," the outgoing leader said in a letter addressed to Rajya Sabha chairman CP Radhakrishnan, who has accepted her resignation.

Shortly after her resignation, a picture of a smiling Sushmita Dev with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Sarma at his Delhi residence appeared online.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Within minutes of the news of Sushmita Dev's resignation from Rajya Sabha and Trinamool Congress, came her images with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The two leaders smiling to the cameras. Images left little to imagination.

"There's only an Assam connection," a beaming Dev told the curious reporters after her surprise somersault.

Asked about her political future, Dev said she does not need anyone's validation and that her political choices "are hers to make".

Politics is unpredictable. Even more uncertain are manoeuvres when the political future appears bleak. Such is the case with one of Trinamool's most vocal MPs, Saayoni Ghosh, who now appears to be a surprise addition to the rebel camp.

Known for her pointed digs at rivals and the nicest remarks for party chief Mamata Banerjee, Ghosh is yet to speak out, but sources suggest she has already chosen her side amid what is playing out to be the Trinamool's biggest crisis since inception.

Asked about her meeting with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Sushmita Dev said, "I took advice from him." 

"Today, I am a free woman. I have known Himanta da for long now; I paid a courtesy visit to him," she said.

Shortly after quitting Trinamool Congress, Sushmita Dev said that she does not want to be in "a situation where she is in two boats at the same time".

"It's a long story," said Sushmita Dev on why she quit Trinamool. She also said she does not want to comment on party chief Mamata Banerjee.

Sushmita Dev is the second Trinamol MP to resign this week. Earlier, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray had tendered his resignation from the party as well as the Rajya Sabha.

NDTV has accessed Sushmita Dev's resignation letter.

"I do hereby resign from the membership of Rajya Sabha, which may please be accepted with immediate effect. I convey my sincere gratitude to your Excellency, Hon'ble Deputy Chairman and all functionaries of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat extending all help and cooperation during my tenure as a Member of the Rajya Sabha," she wrote in a letter to Rajya Sabha chairman and Vice President CP Radhakrishnan.

Trinamool Congress' national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee held a meeting with Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in Delhi today. The meeting at 10 Janpath took place a day after Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee met former Congress president Sonia Gandhi at her residence and discussed ways to further consolidate the opposition INDIA bloc.

Sushmita Dev, shortly after quitting Trinamool, met BJP's Himanta Biswa Sarma in Delhi.

Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev resigned from all party posts, making it the second Rajya Sabha MP from the party to do so this week.

The 53-year-old leader, who crossed over from the Congress and joined the Trinamool in 2021, spoke about starting a "new chapter of public service".

Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar - a four-term Parliamentarian who is now leading the contingent of Trinamool Congress's rebel MPs - was a founder member of the party and a close aide of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Their ties go back to the '70s. Since Mamata Banerjee won her first election in 1984, Ghosh Dastidar has been her political aide.

Today she is leading a rebel group of more than two-third Lok Sabha MPs -- her action making it clear that at the end of the day, the decades old association with Mamata Banerjee is not enough to outweigh certain things.

Mamata Banerjee, a three-time former chief minister, remains in deep political peril as the Crime Investigation Department, or CID, arrived at her home in connection with a signature forgery case.

The 71-year-old leader is already battling a growing, and a very public rift, within the party.

Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury dismissed recent statements made by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders amid the growing turmoil within the party, describing the developments as a sign of frustration following political setbacks.

Reacting to Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee's remarks, Chowdhury said the demand and rhetoric surrounding fresh electoral contests were impractical and reflected political frustration.

"There is no point in talking like a mad person. This cannot happen. This is not some local village or neighbourhood wrestling match where if someone loses once, they can fight again after half an hour. It is certainly a contest, but not a village wrestling match. Elections cannot be held across the country in this manner...This is an expression of frustration," he told IANS.

Trinamool Congress leader Kirti Azad accused the rebels of betraying the party and preparing to join hands with the BJP.

"When BJP goons attack party workers, will you support them? This is betrayal. If you want to go to the BJP, say that openly," he said.

Targeting Kakoli Dastidar, Azad questioned her criticism of the party leadership and referred to the opportunities she had got within the organisation.

"Kakoli lost five elections, yet Mamata Banerjee made her an MP. You were removed as chief whip because you would not come to Parliament and would give instructions over the phone," he alleged.

The rebellion in the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress has revived talk that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is likely to bring the Delimitation Bill again in the Monsoon session. 

On Monday, Trinamool MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar claimed to have the support of 20 party MPs in the Lok Sabha, one more than required to split the party as per the anti-defection law. The rebel MPs assembled at Union Minister Bhupender Yadav's home for a meeting. The Trinamool has 29 MPs in the Lok Sabha.

The 20 rebel MPs plan to form a bloc and support the NDA government at the Centre. If this materialises, it will push NDA even closer to the two-thirds majority mark.

Satabdi Roy, a four-time MP who has been by Mamata Banerjee's side since 2009, claimed that the former chief minister -- popularly known as 'Didi' -- had "changed" of late, a transition that did not go down well with her.

"Didi badal gayi thi," she remarked during an interview with NDTV. "She changed a lot in the past few years. I have an emotional connection with her, but what matters to me is the work, and hence I have taken this decision," she added.

Roy was chosen yesterday as the deputy leader of about a dozen Trinamool MPs who met with BJP leaders and offered to support the NDA, making it official that they wanted to part ways. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who is now the rebels' chief whip, claimed the number of rebel MPs went up to 20.