TMC MPs Allegedly in Talks with BJP for Possible Shift

BJP's Saumitra Khan has suggested that about 20 MPs from the TMC are in discussions to switch parties, provided the move gets approval from BJP's leadership. In response, the TMC has dismissed these claims as completely unfounded.

The TMC holds 29 out of 42 Lok Sabha seats representing West Bengal, compared to BJP's 12 and Congress' single seat. According to Khan, the defection of a significant number of MPs could lead to the dissolution of TMC in the upcoming days, provided the BJP leadership is inclined.

The anti-defection law mandates that at least two-thirds of a party's members must switch to avoid disqualification, equating to roughly 19 to 20 MPs for the TMC. TMC's Sougata Roy has refuted the claims, calling them "baseless" and part of a political narrative by the BJP.

Previously, numerous TMC figures had migrated to BJP prior to the 2021 assembly elections, only to return following TMC's electoral success under Mamata Banerjee. Now with BJP holding power in Bengal, coupled with evident internal discontent in TMC, speculations about further political shifts are gaining momentum.

(With inputs from agencies.)