NEW DELHI: Rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs on Monday said they would fight for control of the party’s election symbol, asserting that they remained part of the organisation and were seeking to “rectify” it, a day after 20 dissident lawmakers announced their merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI).Speaking to reporters, Arup Chakraborty said, “We have not left TMC; we’re in TMC and trying to rectify the party. Why did it get damaged, that is not being discussed. We will fight for the party symbol; we have 20 members, why should we not fight for the symbol,” news agency PTI reported.Signalling a prolonged political and legal battle, Chakraborty said the rebellion marked the beginning of a new phase in West Bengal politics. “A new game has started. Khela Hobe” he added, claiming that the move would bring development and employment to the state.The remarks came a day after 20 rebel TMC MPs met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and declared that they were merging with the NCPI. During the meeting, the MPs also sought a separate seating arrangement in Parliament, effectively formalising their split from the Mamata Banerjee-led party in the legislature.Six-time MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay, who joined the rebel camp, said the dissident group would move the courts to establish itself as the “real” TMC and stake claim to the party’s iconic twin-flower election symbol.The rebellion has triggered a sharp response from the TMC leadership, which argues that the move is invalid under the anti-defection law. Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose said the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution clearly requires the political party itself to merge or split before legislators can claim exemption from disqualification provisions.In a post on X, Ghose said, “Massive false information is being circulated on the 2/3rds majority and anti-defection law. The 10th Schedule and the Supreme Court have made it amply clear.”“It is the political party outside Parliament (not the party representatives sitting inside Parliament) which must first split or merge, and then after this condition, the people inside do not attract the anti-defection law if 2/3rds choose to break away,” she added.Senior TMC leader Saugata Roy also attacked the rebels, accusing them of betraying the mandate on which they were elected. “Now it is clear that the AITC is the party with Mamata Banerjee as chairman. The symbol is two flowers, whose goal is to defeat the BJP,” he told PTI Videos.“Twenty MPs elected on TMC symbol decided to betray their voters by joining an obscure party, some National(ist) Citizens Party of India, illegally, declaring their support for the NDA under Modi,” Roy said.“They obviously did this to avoid the provisions of Schedule 10(4) of the Constitution. People are watching this news,” he added.Chakraborty also launched a direct attack on Mamata Banerjee, claiming she was under pressure following the split. “Mamata Banerjee is scared; she can’t even call a meeting of the party. She could not even hold a meeting in her constituency before the election,” he said.He further identified Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Sudip Bandyopadhyay as the principal leaders of the rebel grouping.The struggle for control of the TMC is unfolding beyond Parliament. In West Bengal, 64 of the party’s 80 MLAs recently broke away and secured recognition as a separate legislative formation, with Ritabrata Banerjee becoming Leader of the Opposition. The Mamata Banerjee-led party has challenged that decision before the Calcutta High Court.The NCPI, with which the rebel MPs announced their merger, is a registered but unrecognised party based in Tripura and has little electoral presence. In the 2023 Tripura Assembly elections, it contested three seats, with its candidates either finishing behind NOTA or securing only marginally higher vote counts.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCongress Welcomes US-Iran Peace Pact, Accuses PM Modi Of ‘Blind Devotion’ To IsraelTMC Symbol Battle Begins As Rebel MPs Claim They Represent The ‘Real’ Trinamool CongressAshok Gehlot Triggers Row, Says Indira Gandhi Would Have Banned BJP If She Were Alive TodayIndian Army Revamps Dress Regulations, Retires Colonial-Era SymbolsFrom Farmland To Flight Path: Farmers Behind Jewar Airport Take Historic First Commercial FlightExplained: How a Fringe Tripura Party Became Central to the TMC Rebellion and NDA’s Numbers GameRSS Event Row: BJP Targets Kerala CM Over Remarks Against Vice-ChancellorsOver 500 Indian Sailors Stuck In Strait Of Hormuz For 107 Days As Maritime Crisis DeepensTMC Split Deepens: Sudip Bandyopadhyay Says Rebels Will Seek Trinamool Name And Symbol In JulyPunjab Elections Could Be Held In November This Year, Claims Kejriwal Amid Early Poll Buzz123Photostories5 things children often hide and why parents need to know these immediately10 summer-friendly saree fabrics for working women for comfort, style, and well-beingFrom Smriti Mandhana to Jemimah Rodrigues: 5 parenting lessons to take from the parents of India’s women cricket starsFather’s Day 2026: How Father’s Day began because one woman wanted to honour her single fatherFrom kebab to achar: 11 ways to enjoy Kathal (jackfruit) during summer seasonInside Aman Gupta’s ultra-luxurious Rs 52 crore abode: Massive balconies, a Bollywood corner, luxe lounge and more7 most expensive streets to buy a home in the world in 20267 Snakes with incredible camouflage skills that can almost disappear into their surroundingsYour eyes could be predicting health problems long before you feel them5 snakes that love swimming pools and important checks to do before plunging in that cool blue hotel pool123Hot PicksIndia A vs Sri Lanka A live scoreAP Inter Supplementary ResultsNEET Admit CardMHT CET PCM ResultMahua MoitraBaba Milandas murderNoida airportStock Market LiveGold rate todayTop TrendingKerala HSCAP first allotment result 2026UPSC Prelims ResultNEET UG Paper Leak ScamFIFA World Cup 2026Women T20 World CupNoida AirportITR filing FY 2025-26CBSE 10th Second Board Result 2026Shreyanka PatilSpain vs Cabo Match Preview
NEW DELHI: Rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs on Monday said they would fight for control of the party’s election symbol, asserting that they remained part of the organisation and were seeking to “rectify” it, a day after 20 dissident lawmakers announced their merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI).Speaking to reporters, Arup Chakraborty said, “We have not left TMC; we’re in TMC and trying to rectify the party. Why did it get damaged, that is not being discussed. We will fight for the party symbol; we have 20 members, why should we not fight for the symbol,” news agency PTI reported.Signalling a prolonged political and legal battle, Chakraborty said the rebellion marked the beginning of a new phase in West Bengal politics. “A new game has started. Khela Hobe” he added, claiming that the move would bring development and employment to the state.The remarks came a day after 20 rebel TMC MPs met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and declared that they were merging with the NCPI. During the meeting, the MPs also sought a separate seating arrangement in Parliament, effectively formalising their split from the Mamata Banerjee-led party in the legislature.Six-time MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay, who joined the rebel camp, said the dissident group would move the courts to establish itself as the “real” TMC and stake claim to the party’s iconic twin-flower election symbol.The rebellion has triggered a sharp response from the TMC leadership, which argues that the move is invalid under the anti-defection law. Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose said the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution clearly requires the political party itself to merge or split before legislators can claim exemption from disqualification provisions.In a post on X, Ghose said, “Massive false information is being circulated on the 2/3rds majority and anti-defection law. The 10th Schedule and the Supreme Court have made it amply clear.”“It is the political party outside Parliament (not the party representatives sitting inside Parliament) which must first split or merge, and then after this condition, the people inside do not attract the anti-defection law if 2/3rds choose to break away,” she added.Senior TMC leader Saugata Roy also attacked the rebels, accusing them of betraying the mandate on which they were elected. “Now it is clear that the AITC is the party with Mamata Banerjee as chairman. The symbol is two flowers, whose goal is to defeat the BJP,” he told PTI Videos.“Twenty MPs elected on TMC symbol decided to betray their voters by joining an obscure party, some National(ist) Citizens Party of India, illegally, declaring their support for the NDA under Modi,” Roy said.“They obviously did this to avoid the provisions of Schedule 10(4) of the Constitution. People are watching this news,” he added.Chakraborty also launched a direct attack on Mamata Banerjee, claiming she was under pressure following the split. “Mamata Banerjee is scared; she can’t even call a meeting of the party. She could not even hold a meeting in her constituency before the election,” he said.He further identified Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Sudip Bandyopadhyay as the principal leaders of the rebel grouping.The struggle for control of the TMC is unfolding beyond Parliament. In West Bengal, 64 of the party’s 80 MLAs recently broke away and secured recognition as a separate legislative formation, with Ritabrata Banerjee becoming Leader of the Opposition. The Mamata Banerjee-led party has challenged that decision before the Calcutta High Court.The NCPI, with which the rebel MPs announced their merger, is a registered but unrecognised party based in Tripura and has little electoral presence. In the 2023 Tripura Assembly elections, it contested three seats, with its candidates either finishing behind NOTA or securing only marginally higher vote counts.