Former Indian cricketer and Gujarat-born Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Yusuf Pathan has found himself at the center of a growing political controversy after senior party leader Mahua Moitra publicly questioned his reported visit to Delhi amid an internal crisis within the party.
Yusuf Pathan, who hails from Vadodara, Gujarat, entered politics ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and was elected as a TMC MP from the Baharampur constituency in West Bengal. He is now facing criticism from within his own party as speculation grows over a possible split among several TMC MPs.
On Monday, Mahua Moitra strongly criticized party members who are reportedly supporting the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Without directly accusing Yusuf Pathan of switching sides, she questioned his reported Delhi visit at a time when the party is dealing with internal unrest.
In a post on X, Moitra wrote, “And Yusuf Pathan, you are rushing to Delhi because Amit Shah has called you? Have some courage. You played for India. Our district voted you in with a huge margin. Have some shame and some spine.”
Earlier, Moitra had also targeted the rebel MPs, calling them “greedy self-serving traitors.” She said they had won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on the Trinamool Congress symbol and not on behalf of the BJP or the NDA.
She further wrote that the mandate given by the voters was for the TMC and urged those supporting the BJP to resign from their seats and contest elections again on a BJP ticket. She stated, “MPs won in 2024 on TMC ticket. Mandate was NOT for NDA. All the greedy self-serving traitors can please join BJP now—resign your seats and contest on BJP ticket. Let’s see what big heroes you are.”
The political tension comes after senior TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar reportedly claimed that nearly 20 TMC MPs have decided to back the NDA and have communicated their position to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The development has intensified speculation about divisions within the Mamata Banerjee-led party following its recent Assembly election setback.
According to reports, the dissident MPs are seeking to support the NDA without formally resigning from the Trinamool Congress or joining the BJP. Sources have indicated that Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar is expected to lead the breakaway group.
The rebel camp is also expected to argue that Dastidar continues to be the valid chief whip of the party in the Lok Sabha and that the appointment of Kalyan Banerjee as her replacement was allegedly never formally communicated to the Lok Sabha Secretariat.
The numbers could prove crucial in the coming days. The Trinamool Congress currently has 28 Lok Sabha MPs, with one seat lying vacant following the death of Basirhat MP Haji Nurul Islam. If around 20 MPs support the rebel group, it would cross the two-thirds threshold required for protection under the anti-defection law, making the political developments significant for the future of the party.
As the situation unfolds, all eyes are now on Yusuf Pathan and the other MPs linked to the developments, while the Trinamool Congress faces one of its biggest internal challenges in recent times.
Also Read: Yusuf Pathan Praises BJP’s Gujarat Governance, Compares It To TMC’s Grip On Bengal https://www.vibesofindia.com/yusuf-pathan-praises-bjps-gujarat-governance-compares-it-to-tmcs-grip-on-bengal/
