TNI Bureau: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is facing a major setback after 20 of its 29 Lok Sabha MPs reportedly extended support to the BJP-led NDA and sought a separate seating arrangement in Parliament, indicating a split within the party’s parliamentary unit.

Senior TMC leader Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said the MPs have written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla requesting separate seating in the Lok Sabha. The development is being seen as a significant challenge for TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and has triggered fresh political uncertainty within the party.

Reports suggest that the group supporting the NDA includes Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Satabdi Roy, Abu Taher Khan, Arup Chakraborty, Khalilur Rahaman, Sharmila Sarkar, Rachana Banerjee, Asit Kumar Mal, Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, Kalipada Soren, Prasun Banerjee, Bapi Haldar, Yusuf Pathan and Partha Bhowmick, among others.

The reported realignment has also fuelled speculation over a possible new delimitation exercise, with sources claiming that some DMK MPs may support the NDA if a Delimitation Bill is introduced in Parliament.

The move comes at a time when the TMC is trying to recover from a disappointing Assembly election performance and could have far-reaching implications for the party’s position in national politics.