- Only eight MLAs attended the Trinamool National Working Committee meeting in Kolkata
- Four of 28 Lok Sabha MPs and two of 13 Rajya Sabha MPs were present at the meeting
- The party said not all MPs and MLAs were invited
Days after 60 of the 80 MLAs skipped a key meeting, only eight MLAs attended a fresh Trinamool Congress huddle at former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee's Kalighat house in Kolkata. The Trinamool, which is facing a rebellion, later clarified that it was a National Working Committee meeting and not all MPs and MLAs were invited.
The Trinamool Congress has 28 Lok Sabha MPs; only four were present at the meeting on Friday at Mamata Banerjee's Kalighat house in Kolkata. 11 of the 13 Rajya Sabha MPs skipped the huddle.
Mamata Banerjee's nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, was among the MPs who attended the meeting. Derek O Brien and Dola Sen were the only Rajya Sabha MPs who turned up.
Madan Mitra, Beena Mondal, Ashima Patra, Firhad Hakim, Kunal Ghosh, Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, Biman Banerjee and Ashok Deb were among the MLAs who attended.
"Pls note - it was a NATIONAL WORKING COMMITTEE and not of ALL MLAs or MPs. Many MPs like Mahua Moitra, Sushmita Dev, Mukul Sangma and Rajesh Tripathi, who are part of the National WC, had joined virtually," the party said.
Rebel Numbers To Grow?
Speaking with NDTV earlier today, Ritabrata Banerjee, the rebel MLA who has become the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, had said more MLAs would join the rebellion.
"As far as our numbers are concerned, that number will keep going up. We had presented a number that is more than 2/3rd, and that number will be higher when we meet during the Assembly session," he said.
Also read: Day After Abhishek Banerjee Assaulted, Another Jolt To Trinamool
He told NDTV that the number supporting him won't drop.
"Let's wait and watch. As the thing progresses, you will see the number of MLAs. I won't take responsibility for other elected representatives. I won't go into that. But as far as MLAs are concerned, the numbers will go on increasing," he added.
Asked about whether Trinamool Congress MPs are also intent on forming a rebel group, Ritabrata Banerjee said, "In the last seven days, I have not spoken to a single MP. So, at present, I cannot tell you about the MPs. As a former MP, I happen to talk to many of them, but for the last seven days, individually, I haven't spoken to any of them, whether it is the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha, I did not have communication with any of them."
Also read: "Can Send Her To Assembly": Expelled Leader's 'Offer' For Mamata Banerjee
What next for the rebel MLAs? Many are reportedly planning to jump ship.
Sources had told NDTV that at least 20 Trinamool Congress MPs were in touch with the BJP.
Also read: Another Churn Brewing In Trinamool? 20 MPs In Touch With BJP: Sources
The rebellion began days after the Trinamool lost the Assembly elections to the BJP. Mamata Banerjee lost the polls against Suvendu Adhikari from Bhabanipur, her perceived stronghold.
Soon, many Trinamool leaders started questioning Mamata Banerjee's leadership style.
Facing a crisis, the worst in Trinamool's history, she expelled two of the 80 MLAs.
