TMC MP Sudip says he is with rebel camp, backs advisory role for Mamata

Business To Business, New Delhi, 14^th June, 2026:    In a significant development in the ongoing turmoil within the All India Trinamool Congress, senior Lok Sabha MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay on Sunday formally joined the dissident camp seeking control of the party's parliamentary wing.
Bandyopadhyay, one of the party's most senior leaders and its long-time face in New Delhi, endorsed a proposal under which Mamata Banerjee would continue to play an advisory and guiding role within the organisation, while supporting the rebels' push for a restructuring of the party's parliamentary leadership.
The move represents a fresh setback for the faction led by Mamata Banerjee, which has been grappling with a major rebellion following the party's defeat in the West Bengal Assembly Election 2026.
According to the dissident group, two more MPs are expected to join their ranks, which would increase their strength in the Lok Sabha to 22 MPs. The rebels have claimed they now command substantial support within the party's parliamentary wing.
Bandyopadhyay said he decided to side with the dissidents after being approached by MPs and MLAs who wanted Mamata Banerjee to remain a respected guiding figure while allowing organisational and parliamentary changes to take place.
The rebel MPs are scheduled to meet Om Birla on Monday to seek recognition as a separate parliamentary bloc. Their request comes despite opposition from Abhishek Banerjee, who has already written to the Speaker arguing that the Constitution and anti-defection provisions do not permit the recognition of a separate faction within an existing political party.
The Speaker's response to the rebels' claim could have major implications for the future of the Trinamool Congress and the balance of power within its parliamentary representation.