TMC rebel MPs Dev, June Malia attend Bengal CM Adhikari's admin meet in Kolaghat
Synopsis
Rebel TMC MPs Dev and June Malia crossed the aisle — at least administratively — by attending West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari's district review meeting in Kolaghat. With 20 TMC Lok Sabha members already in open rebellion against Abhishek Banerjee's leadership, this appearance at a BJP-chaired official forum is the latest, most visible signal of the party's fracturing parliamentary bloc.
Key Takeaways
Rebel TMC MPs Deepak Adhikari (Dev) and June Malia , along with MLA Siuli Saha , attended a BJP government administrative meet on 9 June .
The meeting, chaired by CM Suvendu Adhikari at Kolaghat , reviewed governance in East Midnapore , West Midnapore , and Jhargram .
Dev and Malia are part of a 20-member rebel TMC Lok Sabha bloc that has rejected Abhishek Banerjee 's leadership.
CM Adhikari has revived the cross-party inclusion practice last seen under the Left Front regime ( 1977–2011 ), discontinued during Mamata Banerjee 's 15-year tenure.
Siuli Saha leads the rebel faction within the TMC legislative party in the West Bengal Assembly alongside expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee .
Two rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha members and one party legislator on Tuesday, 9 June attended an administrative review meeting chaired by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at Kolaghat in East Midnapore district — a development that underscores the deepening fault lines within the TMC's parliamentary ranks.
Who Attended the Meeting
The two Lok Sabha members present were actor-turned-politician Deepak Adhikari (popularly known as Dev), TMC MP from Ghatal, and actress-turned-politician June Malia, TMC MP from Medinipur. Both constituencies fall within West Midnapore district. The TMC legislator in attendance was Siuli Saha, currently serving as deputy leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly and a prominent figure in the rebel bloc of the TMC legislative party led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee.
The Rebel Bloc Context
Dev and Malia are among 20 TMC Lok Sabha members — led by senior MPs Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Satabdi Roy — who have openly declared rebellion and refused to accept the leadership of Abhishek Banerjee. Their presence at a meeting convened by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief minister amplifies the political signal, even as the administrative framing provides both sides a degree of deniability.
CM Adhikari's Cross-Party Outreach
Since assuming charge as the ninth Chief Minister of West Bengal, Adhikari has made it a stated practice to invite elected representatives from opposition parties — including MPs and MLAs — to district-level administrative review meetings. His rationale: effective governance requires coordination between the district administration and all elected representatives, regardless of party affiliation. Tuesday's meeting specifically reviewed administrative functioning across East Midnapore, West Midnapore, and Jhargram districts.
A Practice Revived After 15 Years
Notably, this cross-party inclusion was standard practice during the 34-year Left Front rule from 1977 to 2011, observed by Chief Ministers Jyoti Basu and Buddhadeb Bhattacharya. The practice was discontinued during the 15-year TMC regime under former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from 2011 to 2026. The BJP government under Adhikari has now resurrected it — framing governance as an inclusive exercise while simultaneously providing a platform that rebel TMC figures appear willing to use.
What This Signals
The attendance of rebel TMC lawmakers at a BJP-chaired official meeting — however administrative in nature — adds another data point to the fragmentation story within the TMC. With the rebel bloc already numbering 20 Lok Sabha members, the party's internal cohesion remains under visible strain. How the TMC leadership responds to this latest episode will be closely watched in the coming days.
Point of View
The administrative meeting circuit could quietly become a pathway to deeper political realignment.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which TMC MPs attended West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari's meeting in Kolaghat?
Rebel TMC Lok Sabha members Deepak Adhikari (Dev) from Ghatal and June Malia from Medinipur attended the administrative review meeting chaired by CM Suvendu Adhikari at Kolaghat on 9 June. TMC MLA Siuli Saha also attended.
What was the purpose of the Kolaghat administrative meeting?
The meeting reviewed administrative functioning across East Midnapore, West Midnapore, and Jhargram districts. CM Adhikari has adopted a policy of inviting all elected representatives — regardless of party — to such district-level reviews to ensure coordination between administration and public representatives.
Why are Dev and June Malia considered rebel TMC MPs?
Dev and June Malia are among 20 TMC Lok Sabha members who have openly refused to accept Abhishek Banerjee's leadership of the party. The group is led by senior MPs Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Satabdi Roy and represents a significant internal challenge to the TMC leadership.
Is inviting opposition MPs to administrative meetings a new practice in West Bengal?
No. The practice was common during the 34-year Left Front government (1977–2011) under Chief Ministers Jyoti Basu and Buddhadeb Bhattacharya. It was discontinued during Mamata Banerjee's 15-year TMC rule and has now been revived by the BJP government under CM Adhikari.
Who is Siuli Saha and what is her role in the TMC rebel bloc?
Siuli Saha is a TMC legislator currently serving as deputy leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly. She is a prominent figure in the rebel faction of the TMC legislative party, which is led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee.
