The political crisis within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) intensified on Monday after party MP Sharmila Sarkar claimed that a dissident faction backed by around 20 MPs was seeking to function separately in Parliament and extend support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Speaking amid the ongoing turmoil within the party, Sarkar said the rebel group had communicated its position to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and was seeking recognition as a separate parliamentary grouping.

According to Sarkar, dissatisfaction has been growing among several MPs over the party’s functioning and internal decision-making processes. She alleged that many lawmakers felt their concerns were not being adequately addressed within the organisation.

Rebel faction stakes claim

Sarkar claimed that around 20 MPs were associated with the dissident faction and intended to support the NDA in Parliament while functioning separately from the Trinamool Congress.

If the move materialises and receives the necessary recognition, it could have significant implications for the party’s strength in Parliament and pose a major challenge for the TMC leadership.

The claim comes amid a period of internal unrest within the Trinamool Congress, marked by public disagreements involving several leaders and the recent resignation of senior Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy from the party.

Party yet to confirm rebels’ claims

Reports have suggested that rebel leaders have been holding discussions in Delhi as the crisis unfolds. However, the Trinamool Congress leadership has not officially confirmed the dissidents’ claim that around 20 MPs are backing the proposed separate grouping.

As political developments continue to unfold, attention is now focused on whether the rebel faction can formally secure recognition under parliamentary procedures and how the party leadership responds to the challenge.

For now, Sarkar’s remarks have added to speculation about a possible split within the party’s parliamentary ranks at a time when opposition parties are attempting to maintain unity at the national level.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi appealed to INDIA bloc partners to avoid internal conflicts and work together more closely during a key meeting of opposition leaders in New Delhi on Monday.

According to reports, Gandhi used his address at the meeting to stress that opposition parties would be stronger if they remained united rather than criticising one another. He reportedly cautioned allies against “pulling each other down” and urged them to focus on collectively challenging the BJP.

The meeting marked the first formal gathering of the opposition alliance since the recent round of state elections and came amid signs of strain among some alliance partners. Several senior leaders, including Mamata Banerjee and Akhilesh Yadav, attended the discussions.

During his remarks, Gandhi is understood to have expressed disappointment over what he viewed as insufficient support from some allies on issues raised by the Congress, including concerns related to voter list revisions and alleged electoral irregularities. He also reportedly took aim at alliance partners that frequently criticise the Congress despite being part of the opposition grouping.

Opposition plans joint action on voter list concerns

The alliance agreed to jointly raise concerns regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and alleged voter list manipulation. Leaders decided to formally approach the Chief Justice of India with a representation on the matter.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also highlighted the need for opposition parties to build on recent instances of cooperation in Parliament. He argued that a united opposition would be better positioned to address political, economic and governance-related issues facing the country.

Alliance to meet regularly

The INDIA bloc leadership decided that alliance meetings would now be held every two months as part of efforts to improve coordination among member parties. The next meeting is expected to take place in Hyderabad in August.

The gathering came against the backdrop of recent electoral developments and ongoing discussions about the future direction of the opposition alliance, which has been facing questions over internal cohesion and strategy.

The opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has criticised the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) over its latest Rajya Sabha nominations, alleging that the party’s commitment to women’s political representation is not reflected in its candidate selections. The remarks have triggered a fresh political confrontation in Andhra Pradesh over the issue of women’s reservation.

TDP president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu recently finalised the party’s nominees for the upcoming Rajya Sabha vacancies. The selected candidates include sitting MP Sana Satish Babu, education entrepreneur Bhashyam Ramakrishna and party leader Chintakayala Vijay.

YSRCP raises questions on women’s representation

Reacting to the nominations, the YSRCP argued that the selections did not align with repeated promises made by the TDP leadership regarding women’s participation in politics. The opposition party pointed to the absence of women among the announced Rajya Sabha candidates and questioned the sincerity of the ruling party’s commitment to reserving 33 per cent of seats for women.

The criticism comes shortly after TDP national general secretary Nara Lokesh announced that the party would reserve 33 per cent of Assembly and Parliament seats for women in the 2029 elections. The proposal had also received public backing from Chandrababu Naidu.

Opposition calls Rajya Sabha nominations a missed opportunity

According to the YSRCP, the Rajya Sabha nominations provided an immediate opportunity for the TDP to demonstrate its commitment to women’s empowerment through candidate selection. The party maintained that political commitments should be reflected through representation and decision-making roles rather than only through public declarations.

The issue has now emerged as another point of contention between the ruling NDA alliance in Andhra Pradesh and the opposition YSRCP, with both sides likely to continue debating women’s representation in elected bodies in the run-up to future elections.