TMC turmoil worsens: Rajya Sabha MP Prakash Chik Baraik quits as Mamata Banerjee faces full-blown revolt

KOLKATA: In another setback for Mamata Banerjee-led TMC, Rajya Sabha MP Prakash Chik Baraik resigned from the Upper House on Thursday, becoming the third TMC member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha to quit amid signs of growing unrest within the party.In a letter addressed to Rajya Sabha chairman CP Radhakrishnan, Baraik announced his decision to resign from the Upper House with immediate effect."I hereby resign from the membership of the Rajya Sabha. Kindly accept my resignation with immediate effect," he wrote.The outgoing MP also thanked the Chair and the Rajya Sabha Secretariat for the assistance and cooperation extended to him during his tenure."I extend my sincere gratitude to Your Excellency, the Hon'ble Deputy Chairman and all officials of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat for their support and cooperation throughout my term as a Member of Parliament," the letter stated.His exit comes close on the heels of the resignations of fellow TMC Rajya Sabha MPs Sukhendu Sekhar Roy and Sushmita Dev, deepening concerns about dissent within the party following its recent political setbacks.Sushmita Dev resigned from both the Rajya Sabha and the TMC on Wednesday, becoming the second dissident Upper House member to leave the party after Roy.Her resignation came shortly after a meeting with Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Delhi, fuelling speculation that she may be headed to the BJP.Last week's rebellion dealt a major blow to the TMC, with 58 of its 80 MLAs breaking away from the official legislature party and securing recognition as the principal opposition group in the West Bengal Assembly under expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee.The rebel camp has since claimed that even more legislators have joined its ranks.The turmoil soon spilled over to Parliament. A group of rebel MPs led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar claimed the backing of more than 20 Lok Sabha members, with Jadavpur MP Saayoni Ghosh and Kolkata Dakshin MP Mala Roy joining the dissident camp on Wednesday.Apart from Ghosh Dastidar and Roy, the faction is said to include Abu Taher, Asit Mal, Arup Chakraborty, Kalipada Soren, Jagadish Basunia, Prasun Banerjee, Sharmila Sarkar, Satabdi Roy, Yusuf Pathan, June Malia, Khalilur Rahaman, Bapi Halder, Rachana Banerjee, Mitali Bag, Dev Adhikari and Partha Bhowmick. Although reports suggested that Shatrughan Sinha was also among the rebels, TMC leaders insist the actor-politician continues to support Mamata Banerjee.Ghosh Dastidar has announced that the rebel MPs intend to write to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressing support for the NDA government, though no such letter has been made public so far.Amid speculation about a possible split in the party, a senior TMC MP stressed that a distinction exists between a political party and its parliamentary wing."There is a difference between a political party and a parliamentary party," he said, arguing that MPs cannot simply create a separate parliamentary group after breaking away. Under anti-defection rules, he noted, the only route available is a merger supported by at least two-thirds of members.Drawing comparisons with similar situations in other parties, including the AAP, the MP maintained that the constitutional position regarding parliamentary parties remains clear.In an apparent swipe at some of the dissidents, he also reminded them of the party's long political journey. "The TMC has been fighting since 1998. Those who joined later have not witnessed that struggle," he said.Meanwhile, Ritabrata Banerjee asserted that his faction represents the "real TMC" and categorically ruled out any merger with the Congress.Claiming the support of a majority of the party's MLAs and a growing number of MPs, Banerjee said the rebel group would continue to operate under the Trinamool Congress banner."We are the real Trinamool Congress. We are not merging with the Congress," he said in Kolkata, adding that MLAs, MPs and organisational leaders aligned with his camp oppose any merger proposal and are determined to pursue an independent political path.(With PTI inputs)