• Source:JND

Tensions for former West Bengal CM and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee are far from ending as a list of 19 Lok Sabha MPs surfaced on Wednesday, who, under Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, have formed a rebel faction and extended support to the BJP-led NDA.

The list includes some shocking names like Shatrughan Sinha, Yusuf Pathan and Saayoni Ghosh. Ghosh reportedly joined the bloc after the initial letter of support was already submitted to the Speaker.

Who are 19 Lok Sabha MPs deserting Mamata Banerjee?

According to Jagran.com sources, the rebel MPs are:

  • Shatrughan Sinha (Asansol)
  • Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar (Barasat)
  • Jagdish Chandra Basunia (Cooch Behar)
  • Khalilur Rahman (Jangipur)
  • Yusuf Pathan (Baharampur)
  • Abu Tahir Khan (Murshidabad)
  • Partha Bhowmick (Barrackpore)
  • Bapi Haldar (Mathurapur)
  • Sayani Ghosh (Jadavpur)
  • Mala Roy (Kolkata South)
  • Mithali Bagh (Arambagh)
  • Deepak Adhikari / Dev (Ghatal)
  • Kalipada Soren (Jhargram)
  • June Malia (Medinipur)
  • Arup Chakraborty (Bankura)
  • Sharmila Sarkar (Bardhaman East)
  • Asit Kumar Mal (Bolpur)
  • Shatabdi Roy (Birbhum)
  • Rachana Banerjee (Hooghly)

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The addition of Jadavpur MP Sayoni Ghosh and Kolkata South MP Mala Roy joining the rebel camp has further compounded the difficulties for Trinamool supremo and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The strength of rebel faction could rise

According to sources, both MPs have agreed to support the breakaway faction led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar. The number of rebel MPs in the Lok Sabha could rise further as more MPs may join the bloc in the coming days.

In the Lok Sabha, the party has 28 MPs, 19 out of whom have reportedly rebelled. A similar situation is unfolding in the Rajya Sabha, where the Mamata-led party has 13 MPs. However, in the past couple of days, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy and Sushmita Dev stepped down and tendered their resignations.

ALSO READ: Sushmita Dev Wants To Work In Assam After Exiting TMC; How Her Possible Switch To BJP May Impact Northeastern Politics?

Apart from a fractured parliamentary party, Trinamool's position in the Assembly is also weakening. Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee claimed that the number of rebel MLAs has risen to 64, adding that the figure would continue to rise.


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