In what may turn out to be a rerun of Aam Aadmi Party MPs splitting their outfit in the Rajya Sabha, several Trinamool Congress members are said to be mulling resigning from the Parliamentary party of TMC and also the primary membership of the Mamata Banerjee led outfit also.
The first to go on Monday was Sukhendu Shekhar Ray, senior TMC member in the Upper House, who sent his resignation as MP as well as from TMC primary membership to the Vice-President, who is also chairman of the House of Elders.
Ray said he was resigning in deference to the huge mandate the people of West Bengal gave to the BJP and against the TMC.
The mandate, he said, was against 15 years of “anarchichal rule, unbridled corrpution and atrocities against women".
“Vox Populi, vox dei", said Ray, putting in his papers.
Importantly, several MPs of the TMC in both Houses are said to be mulling resignations from the party, though it is unclear yet if they will — like AAP MPs recently split the TMC in Parliament and joined the BJP.
Earlier, 58 MLAs in the Bengal Assembly also split the TMC and declared themselves the real Trinamool.
Under the anti-defection law, a legislature party split is recognised if two-thirds MPs break away to form a separate group.
The fast-paced events are unfolding even as Mamata Banerjee and Derek O’Brien, senior TMC leaders, are attending the INDIA bloc meeting in Constitution Club in Delhi.
The Tribune has learnt that by 5 pm, many more MPs of the Trinamool Congress could put in their papers. “Today is a crucial day, do watch out," said a TMC source.
