Former Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale has said that rebel TMC MPs seeking recognition as a separate parliamentary group could face disqualification if they choose to back the BJP-led NDA.
He argued that the anti-defection law does not provide legal protection for a "split", and warned that any move to align with the NDA could attract action under the law.
In a post on X, Gokhale accused the rebel MPs of failing to understand the legal position and alleged that they were attempting to transfer the mandate received on a Trinamool Congress (TMC) ticket to the BJP.
"The TMC traitor MPs have been so excited by the crores given by the BJP that they haven't bothered to read the law," he said.
Gokhale said the Constitution's 91st Amendment removed provisions relating to a split and argued tht forming a separate parliamentary group enjoyed "zero protection under law".
"The 'split' attempt is dead," he said.
Rejecting suggestions that the dissident MPs could merge with the BJP, Gokhale said, "A 'merger' needs the whole party to merge & not just the legislative party. They can merge only if the entire TMC merged with BJP -- not happening in our lifetimes."
"Therefore, forget 20 MPs or two-thirds. Even if they had 25 out of 28 signatures, they can't 'merge' with BJP," he said.
The former Rajya Sabha member also maintained that supporting the NDA or defying the party whip would amount to defection.
"Backing the NDA = defection. The moment the traitors support the BJP-led NDA or defy the party whip, they are considered to have 'voluntarily given up' their membership," he said.
Gokhale said, "Anything they try to pull off -- disqualification awaits. We will not allow these traitors to cheat the people of Bengal & the party that gave them their MP seats," he said.
The remarks come as dissident TMC MPs said they will meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday to seek recognition as the "real TMC".
Rebel MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia on Friday claimed that 19 Lok Sabha members were backing the faction.
"We have submitted the letter... On Monday, we will go to the Speaker and stake our claim to form the real TMC parliamentary group. We will ask the Speaker to give recognition to our claim," Basunia told PTI.
The TMC plunged into a crisis following the party's defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections in 2026 and a rebellion by a large section of its legislators.
The turmoil later spread to Parliament, with dissident MPs claiming the support of more than 20 Lok Sabha members.
On Thursday, Rajya Sabha MP Prakash Chik Baraik became the third TMC parliamentarian to resign from both the party and the Upper House this week, after Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Sushmita Dev.
(With inputs from PTI)
