Senior Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay met Union minister Bhupender Yadav in Delhi, accompanied by rebel TMC MP Satabdi Roy. This comes 24 hours after 19 dissident TMC MPs announced they would seek recognition as the 'real TMC' parliamentary group.
Bandyopadhyay was not among the 19 MPs who signed a letter expressing support for a separate parliamentary party faction of the TMC. However, his signing would take the number to 20.
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, "Mamata gave these people posts and honour. In return they do this. Sudip Bandyopadhyay has a history of changing political camps."
According to a section of TMC leaders, if Bandyopadhyay joins the rebel camp, it would be a big blow for Banerjee. TMC MP Saugata Roy said, "He was never a loyalist. He is not a political element. He has climbed up the ladder with the support of Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, former Union minister and Mamata Banerjee."
The TMC is battling turmoil in the state too, where the rebel camp has announced the support of 64 legislators and more were likely to join.
