TMC rebel leaders list: From Sushmita Dev to others, check leaders deserting Mamata Banerjee's party after poll blow

Amid fresh setbacks for the Trinamool Congress, Rajya Sabha MP Prakash Chik Baraik resigned on Thursday, a day after fellow party MP Sushmita Dev stepped down from the Upper House.

Adding to the political churn, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee met Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi at 10 Janpath in New Delhi on Wednesday. The meeting has drawn attention amid speculation over coordination within the INDIA bloc and growing internal strain within the TMC.

Further deepening the crisis, senior TMC leader Sukhendu Sekhar Ray resigned from the Rajya Sabha and the party's primary membership, criticising the party's performance in the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections. He described the verdict as an outcome of "15 years of anarchical rule" by the Mamata Banerjee-led government.


In another sign of internal fragmentation, rebel TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar confirmed that a group of 20 MPs has formally sought separate seating arrangements in the Lok Sabha, signalling an organisational split within the party's parliamentary ranks.

Meanwhile, reports of rebel TMC MPs meeting Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and BJP leaders in West Bengal have triggered speculation of a possible alignment with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). However, no official merger has been confirmed. Any such move would require compliance with the anti-defection law under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which mandates a two-thirds majority for recognition of a split.

Full list of TMC Rebel/expelled leaders:

• Sushmita Dev
• Sukhendu Sekhar Ray
  Rebel TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar had confirmed to ANI that a faction of 20 MPs has formally requested the Lok Sabha Speaker for separate seating arrangements
  A rebellion was also led by expelled party MLA Ritabrata Banerjee in the West Bengal assembly. Banerjee, who was expelled due to anti-party activities from the TMC, formed a separate faction in the West Bengal assembly with the support of 58 MLAs, and was later elected as Leader of Opposition, replacing Sobhandev Chattopadhyay
• Sandipan Saha
• Senior party leader and MLA Firhad Hakim was seen entering the chamber of Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee after resigning as Kolkata Mayor
• TMC MP Prakash Chik Baraik resigns as a member of the Rajya Sabha

Additionally, Saayoni Ghosh, a vocal Mamata loyalist, and three Muslim MPs are supporting the breakaway faction, which is set to align with the BJP-led NDA govt at the Centre, reported TOI.

TMC attacks rebel leaders:

Trinamool Congress leaders Kalyan Banerjee and Kirti Azad on Tuesday launched a blistering attack on rebel party MPs, accusing them of lacking political morality, maintaining links with the BJP and abandoning party workers at a time when they were allegedly facing harassment and political attacks.

Addressing a press conference here, Banerjee said the TMC had called the briefing after dissident MPs claimed support from a majority of the party's Lok Sabha members and announced plans to seek recognition as a separate faction.

Lok Sabha MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who is at the forefront of the rebel faction, said on Monday that they had decided to write to Speaker Om Birla declaring support for the NDA. Dastidar claimed that 20 MPs of the party have decided to write to the speaker.

Referring to former TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, who resigned from the Upper House after levelling allegations against the party, Banerjee said rebel MPs should follow the same course if they had grievances against the organisation.

"Sukhendu Sekhar Roy has resigned from the Rajya Sabha after making allegations against our party. Those who are making allegations against the party must follow the path of Sukhendu and show political morality by resigning as MPs," he said.

Questioning the authenticity of a letter reportedly circulated by the dissident camp, Banerjee said such an important document has not been placed in the public domain.

"If you are so honest, why don't you make it public? Why don't you have the courage to give the letter to the press?" he asked, alleging that the entire exercise lacked transparency.

Banerjee also accused the rebel leaders of effectively aligning themselves with the BJP.

The two leaders noted that rebel MPs had met Union minister Bhupender Yadav in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, proving they are with the BJP.

While TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and several senior MPs attended a meeting of INDIA bloc leaders, some dissident TMC MPs gathering at the Motilal Nehru Marg residence of Union minister and BJP's West Bengal election in-charge Yadav on Monday.

Adhikari, who was in the national capital on official work, and former Tripura chief minister Biplab Deb, the BJP's former co-in-charge for the recently concluded West Bengal elections, reportedly also paid a brief visit to Yadav's residence on Monday.

Slamming the rebels, Kalyan Banerjee said, "They may make some jugglery of words, but people are not fools. They have changed their leader from Mamata Banerjee to Narendra Modi".

"We are very happy, this double character people have gone. I talked to Yusuf Pathan yesterday. He was in Baroda. He said Amit Shah has called him and he's coming to Delhi to meet him. Talked in the night. Amit Shah is working to break the party, he is the person," he charged.

Speaking at the conference, 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 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.

"These traitors can leave, but they should never take the name of Trinamool. We were born out of struggle," Azad said.