KOLKATA: The ongoing rift within the Trinamool Congress escalated further on Monday morning after rebel MP Arup Chakraborty made explosive claims about the circumstances surrounding party chief Mamata Banerjee’s leadership and the role of her family in the party’s decline.Chakraborty claimed that Mamata Banerjee was facing “family pressure” and was not allowed to function freely, alleging that incidents from her residence had become a topic of discussion among people in villages.“Mamata Banerjee was not allowed to work happily. She was under family pressure. She was attacked. She was pushed once at night and suffered injuries,” Chakraborty claimed.He further alleged that opposition leaders had mocked Mamata over such incidents, saying:“Did you fall, Didi? Did you get injured?”Chakraborty claimed that Mamata wanted to work independently but was unable to do so, and alleged that handing over greater responsibility to Abhishek Banerjee damaged the party’s structure.“She wanted to work neutrally, but they didn’t let her. This happened in her house, in her family. She handed responsibility to Abhishek Banerjee, and that is why the party was ruined,” he said.Battle for party identityThe remarks come amid the biggest crisis in the Trinamool Congress, with a faction of rebel MPs moving to merge with the little-known Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) and approaching Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla seeking separate seating arrangements in Parliament.The rebel camp claims that 20 TMC MPs have backed the move, arguing that they represent a separate faction.Rebel MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said:“Two-thirds of TMC MPs have given a letter to the Speaker for a separate seating arrangement. We will merge with NCPI and support the NDA.”The faction has also indicated that it will legally fight for recognition as the “real TMC” and stake claim to the party symbol.NCPI merger sparks political shockwavesThe merger has triggered questions over the choice of NCPI, a small Tripura-based registered unrecognised party with limited electoral presence.The party had contested the 2023 Tripura Assembly elections but failed to establish a significant political footprint.The rebel MPs, however, maintain that the merger provides them legal protection under the anti-defection framework.‘Betrayal of voters’The Mamata Banerjee-led faction has challenged the rebel move, arguing that the merger does not have legal validity.TMC MPs Kirti Azad and Sagarika Ghose submitted a representation to the Speaker on behalf of Abhishek Banerjee, urging that no recognition or facilities be granted to the breakaway group.Senior TMC leader Sougata Roy attacked the rebels, saying:“Once you betray the party on whose symbol you were elected, how will you face your voters?”Calling the merger “ridiculous”, Roy alleged that the move was aimed at pleasing the BJP.Kapil Sibal demands disqualificationSenior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal also questioned the legality of the rebellion and demanded disqualification of the MPs.Calling the development a sign of a larger political crisis, Sibal said:“The rebels of the TMC legislative party cannot merge with another political party. That can happen only if TMC itself wishes to do so.”The fight is no longer limited to Parliament.Last week, a group claiming support from 64 TMC MLAs broke away and formed a separate legislative grouping, with Ritabrata Banerjee being recognised as Leader of Opposition.The Mamata Banerjee-led party has challenged that recognition in the Calcutta High Court.The TMC crisis has now turned into a three-way battle — over control of the party, ownership of its political identity, and the future of Mamata Banerjee’s legacy.(With agency inputs)
