More trouble brews for Mamata as 20 TMC MPs in active talks to join BJP: Report

Highly-placed sources told NDTV that at least 20 TMC MPs are currently in active, high-level discussions with the BJP to switch loyalties. For a party already reeling from mutiny by MLAs at home and the loss of the Leader of the Opposition post back home, a national exodus of this scale would not just shatter the TMC’s central clout, but fundamentally rewrite the balance of power within the Opposition INDIA bloc.

According to the report, at least 20 TMC Members of Parliament are allegedly actively discussing with the BJP at the highest levels, signalling a potential defection that could split Mamata Banerjee's party in Parliament.

Out of the TMC’s total strength of 41 parliamentarians, 28 are in the Lok Sabha and 13 in the Rajya Sabha, and losing nearly half of them would strike a devastating blow to Banerjee.

Also read: Mamata’s ‘unlucky 13’ moment: How fortnight of rebellion pushed TMC to the brink

If the parliamentary group defects now, Mamata Banerjee's battle will shift from saving her government to a legal war over the party's official name and symbol, a challenge that, drawing from recent political precedents in Maharashtra, looks increasingly uphill.

Possible erosion of Opposition clout

The TMC currently stands as the second-largest Opposition bloc in Parliament; a rebellion of this scale would drastically erode both the TMC's and the legislative clout of the Opposition.

Senior MPs are currently tight-lipped or refusing to comment, while TMC leadership is holding long, anxious strategy meetings specifically focused on "keeping the flock together" ahead of the upcoming monsoon session. Some MPs are blaming the looming threat of defection on the ruling party’s alleged "Operation Lotus" tactics.

This development comes after TMC's West Bengal legislature party has already split, with a rebel faction of 60 MLAs led by Ritabrata Banerjee claiming to be the "real" Trinamool. Having openly challenged Mamata's chosen nominee, Ritabrata's faction has officially secured the Assembly Speaker’s approval to designate him as the Leader of the Opposition.

The party split follows weeks of compounding vulnerabilities. Resentment has built steadily over corruption allegations, electoral setbacks, and the party’s controversial handling of the RG Kar hospital tragedy. Last week, multiple TMC lawmakers even attended a strategy meeting convened by BJP leader and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

TMC to lose political leverage?

Mamata Banerjee’s formidable legacy as a three-term CM had historically positioned the TMC as a dominant regional heavyweight and the second-largest Opposition party within the national INDIA alliance. Now, with these severe setbacks and the fracturing of her party in Bengal, analysts state the TMC is bound to lose this immense political leverage.

Concurrently, the Congress party’s leverage is expected to rise significantly within the alliance, filling the vacuum left by the TMC's domestic weakening.

The broader INDIA bloc is scheduled to meet on June 8 for the first time after a long hiatus. Despite the chaos, both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee currently plan to attend the meeting to rally national opposition support behind them.

Also read: Bengal's Didi shield cracks: How Mamata Banerjee lost the state she dominated

The meeting will be marked by altered alliance dynamics. For instance, another crucial partner, the DMK, has fallen out with Congress in Tamil Nadu (following a state election defeat where Congress broke ranks to join actor-politician Vijay's TVK government), and the DMK has not even confirmed if it will attend the June 8 huddle.