TMC Rebel List: Yusuf Pathan, Saayoni Ghosh, Shatrughan Sinha Among 19 Signatories

19 TMC MPs Reportedly Sign Rebel List as Party Faces Deepening Internal Crisis

Political turmoil within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) intensified on Wednesday, with reports suggesting that as many as 19 MPs, including prominent names such as Yusuf Pathan, Saayoni Ghosh and Shatrughan Sinha, have signed a rebel list, according to sources. The development has triggered speculation of a possible split within the party.

The TMC MPs who allegedly joined the rebel camp are:

1. Shatrughan Sinha (Asansol)
2. Kakoli Ghosh (Barasat)
3. Jagdish Chandra Basunia (Cooch Behar)
4. Khali ur Rehman (Jangipur)
5. Yusuf Pathan (Behrampur)
6. Abu Tahir Khan (Murshidabad)
7. Partha Bhumik (Barrackpore)
8. Bapi Haldar (Mathurapur)
9. Saayoni Ghosh( Jadavpur)
10. Mala Roy (Kolkata South)
11. Mitali Bag (Aarambagh)
12. Deepak Adhikari (Ghatal)
13. Kalipada Soren (Jhalgram)
14. June Malia (Medinipur)
15. Aroop Chakraborty (Bankura)
16. Sharmila Sarkar (Vardhaman East)
17. Asit Kumar Mall (Bolpur)
18. Satabdi Roy (Birbhum)
19. Rachana Bannerjee (Hooghly)

The internal unrest, which has also been echoed in the West Bengal Assembly, is being seen as one of the most serious challenges to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s leadership in recent years. The situation could have significant implications for the party’s standing in both Kolkata and New Delhi.

The TMC currently holds 28 Lok Sabha seats, with one vacancy following the death of Basirhat MP Haji Nurul Islam. If confirmed, the reported dissent would significantly reduce the party’s effective numerical strength in the Lower House.

According to sources, the dissident MPs are not planning to resign from the party or formally join the BJP. Instead, they are considering functioning as a separate parliamentary group extending support to the NDA, a move that could help them navigate anti-defection provisions.

With support from 19 MPs—more than two-thirds of the party’s Lok Sabha strength—the group may also argue that they are eligible to avoid disqualification under anti-defection rules.

Reports indicate that the MPs have informed Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla about the formation of a separate parliamentary bloc, reportedly under the leadership of Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar. The faction is also expected to contend that Dastidar continues to serve as the party’s chief whip in the House, a claim that could become central to any procedural scrutiny.

The developments come amid reports of political meetings in the national capital involving several MPs and senior leaders. According to PTI, a photograph circulating from one such gathering showed MPs and leaders including Sukhendu Shekhar Ray, Abu Taher, Asit Mal, Arup Chakraborty, Kalipada Soren, Jagdish Basunia, Prasun Banerjee, Sharmila Sarkar and Satabdi Roy.

Party insiders also claimed that around 20 MPs attended an informal meeting in Delhi late Sunday night, further fuelling speculation of coordinated dissent within the parliamentary party.

TMC rejects claim, calls list misleading

Amid reports of a 19-member rebel bloc, leaders aligned with Mamata Banerjee dismissed the claims, saying the list was misleading. They asserted that prominent figures such as Shatrughan Sinha and Dev Adhikari remain with the party.

“A list claiming 19 signatories is being circulated. Both Shatrughan Sinha and Dev Adhikari are with the party (AITC) and not with any BJP-backed rebel group. Dev has already spoken to the media reaffirming his loyalty,” a party source said.

The developments in Parliament follow growing unrest in the West Bengal Assembly, where 58 of 80 TMC MLAs reportedly opposed the leadership’s decision to appoint veteran leader Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of the Opposition and instead backed expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee.

The twin episodes of dissent have raised questions over internal cohesion within the TMC after its recent electoral setbacks.

Meanwhile, at a recent INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi, Mamata Banerjee was seen taking a more conciliatory tone amid efforts by Opposition parties to present a united front against the BJP. Political observers noted that the evolving situation has also revived speculation about possible realignments within the broader opposition camp.

The developments continue to unfold as both the party leadership and dissident camp await formal clarity on the status of the reported rebel bloc.