NDA
NDA strength crosses 300 in Lok Sabha as 20 rebel TMC MPs extend support
New Delhi/IBNS: The strength of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Lok Sabha has crossed the 300-mark, recovering the ground it lost in the 2024 general elections with the backing of a bloc of 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs.
The NDA's tally in the Lower House has now risen to 312, with the BJP remaining the largest constituent of the coalition with 240 seats.
The support from the rebel TMC MPs has significantly strengthened the ruling alliance's position in Parliament and reduced its dependence on key allies such as N. Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] for pushing legislation and navigating crucial votes.
The development marks a major boost for the BJP-led coalition, giving it a more comfortable majority in the Lok Sabha and greater political flexibility on contentious issues.
20 TMC MPs back NDA
According to reports, 20 Lok Sabha MPs from the Trinamool Congress held a closed-door meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav's residence in New Delhi.
The MPs subsequently submitted a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla informing him of their decision to support the NDA and requesting seating arrangements alongside members of the ruling alliance.
Letter submitted to Speaker's office
The letter was reportedly submitted by TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar in her capacity as the party's chief whip.
However, Dastidar has already been announced to be replaced by senior parliamentarian Kalyan Banerjee.
As Speaker Om Birla was not in the national capital, the letter was reportedly dropped at his office.
Several prominent MPs among signatories
According to reports, the group of 20 MPs includes Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Sharmila Sarkar, Partha Bhowmik, Arup Chakraborty, Asit Mal, Dev, Rachana Banerjee, Satabdi Roy, June Maliah, Yusuf Pathan, among others.
Their move is being seen as one of the biggest parliamentary rebellions faced by the Trinamool Congress in recent years.
Mamata's numbers shrink
The Trinamool Congress currently has 28 members in the Lok Sabha, including party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
If the reports are accurate, only eight MPs remain firmly aligned with Mamata Banerjee, underscoring the scale of the crisis confronting the party leadership.
Turmoil deepens after Sukhendu Sekhar Roy's resignation
The latest development comes just hours after veteran leader Sukhendu Sekhar Roy resigned as a Rajya Sabha MP and primary member of the Trinamool Congress.
Roy accused the party leadership of sidelining several leaders and failing to properly assess public sentiment following the election defeat.
BJP ends 15-year TMC rule
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept to power in West Bengal for the first time, winning 208 seats in the Assembly elections.
The TMC was reduced to 80 seats, bringing an end to Mamata Banerjee's uninterrupted 15-year rule in the state.
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