The rebel MPs have a petition pending before Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking formal recognition of their merger into NCPI, and are expecting a decision on it soon. One rebel MP said the merger petition remains with the Speaker and that they expect a resolution shortly.

The split traces back to TMC's defeat in this year's West Bengal Assembly elections in April, which triggered a major fracture within the party. Of TMC's 28 Lok Sabha MPs, 20 broke away from the leadership of Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, aligning instead with NCPI — an unrecognised political party registered in Howrah, West Bengal.

Rebel MPs Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar attended Tuesday's meeting on the invitation of Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. Opposition parties objected to their presence and staged a symbolic walkout, though they returned to the meeting a short while later.

If the Speaker grants recognition to the NCPI merger, it would mark the largest split in Trinamool Congress's history. In that scenario, these MPs would attend future NDA meetings specifically as NCPI representatives rather than as TMC dissidents. If the merger isn't approved, they would continue participating in such meetings as rebel TMC MPs instead.

The stakes extend beyond formal recognition. Whichever way the Speaker rules, the outcome is likely to deepen the political crisis already underway within Trinamool Congress and shift the balance of political equations between the treasury and opposition benches during the current Parliament session. Separately, of TMC's 80 MLAs in the West Bengal Assembly, 64 have also revolted, forming a distinct faction under the leadership of Ritabrata Banerjee.

Abhishek Banerjee has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla demanding action against the 20 rebel MPs, according to related reporting — a sign the parliamentary fight over recognition is set to continue alongside the broader organisational battle playing out within the party.

Fresh political uncertainty has surfaced within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), with reports indicating that a group of 18 party MPs may meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on June 8. The development has triggered speculation about a possible split within the party's parliamentary wing, just weeks after a rebellion in the West Bengal Assembly exposed internal divisions in the ruling outfit.

Sources familiar with the matter claim that the group is being led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who has emerged as one of the most vocal critics within the party in recent months. While there has been no official confirmation from the TMC leadership regarding the reported meeting, the developments have intensified discussions over the party's future political direction following recent setbacks in the state.

The speculation comes at a sensitive time for the party, which has been dealing with organisational challenges since the change of government in West Bengal. Political observers believe any significant movement within the parliamentary party could have wider implications for the opposition landscape at the national level.

Assembly Rebellion Sparks Concern

The latest reports follow a major political development in the West Bengal Assembly earlier this year. After the Assembly election results, a section of TMC legislators reportedly distanced themselves from the party leadership and formed a separate platform called the "Naba Trinamool Manch."

The group was led by Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, who demanded changes in the party's legislative leadership. The episode raised questions about growing dissatisfaction among certain sections of the party.

Political analysts suggest that the emergence of a similar pattern within the Lok Sabha could create fresh challenges for the TMC leadership as it attempts to maintain unity among its elected representatives.

Numbers Under Scrutiny

The TMC currently has 28 members in the Lok Sabha after the death of MP Sheikh Hazi Nurul Islam, whose constituency remains vacant pending a by-election. The party had secured 29 seats from West Bengal in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The reported figure of 18 MPs has attracted attention because it approaches the threshold required under anti-defection provisions. Constitutional experts note that any move involving a substantial portion of the parliamentary party could potentially alter the legal and political dynamics surrounding party recognition and legislative status.

Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar's name has featured prominently in recent political discussions after she was removed from the post of the party's chief whip in the Lok Sabha. Since then, she has publicly expressed disagreements with the leadership of Mamata Banerjee on multiple occasions.

BJP Reacts to Reports

Reacting to the reports, Rahul Sinha claimed that the Trinamool Congress was facing increasing organisational challenges. He argued that internal conflicts were weakening the party's structure and diverting attention from broader political issues.

However, Sinha also stated that the BJP was not actively looking to induct leaders from the rival camp at present, indicating that the party was closely observing the situation rather than intervening directly.

For now, the reports remain unconfirmed. Neither the TMC leadership nor the MPs concerned have publicly announced plans for a breakaway group. Political attention will remain focused on the proposed June 8 meeting, which could provide greater clarity on whether the developments represent routine internal dissent or the beginning of a larger realignment within the party.