Trinamool MP Pratima Mondal denies rebel bloc link, says name used without consent
Synopsis
Trinamool MP Pratima Mondal's public denial of rebel bloc membership has done little to quiet the storm — if anything, it confirms the reports are credible enough to demand a response. With 20 dissidents reportedly just above the two-thirds anti-defection threshold, the Trinamool's parliamentary future and the INDIA bloc's unity are both on the line.
Key Takeaways
Trinamool Congress MP Pratima Mondal on 11 June denied being part of an alleged rebel bloc of ~20 Trinamool MPs said to be aligning with the NDA .
Mondal said her name was included 'without her knowledge or consent' and that she had 'not signed any paper'.
Trinamool's current Lok Sabha strength stands at 27 (after the Basirhat vacancy); a recognised split requires at least 19 MPs under the Anti-Defection Law .
The reported dissident group of 20 would, if verified, clear the two-thirds constitutional threshold.
NDA currently holds 293 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha ; an extra bloc of 20 could bolster passage of key bills including the simultaneous elections and women's reservation legislation.
Congress leader K.C.
Venugopal termed the split reports 'rumours' on the same day.
All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Pratima Mondal on Thursday, 11 June flatly denied being part of an alleged rebel bloc of around 20 Trinamool MPs reportedly distancing themselves from party leadership and extending support to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Mondal told reporters that her name had been included in the group without her knowledge or consent, calling the association entirely false.
What Mondal Said
'I am not a part of the new bloc that has been presented by some other MPs of the Trinamool Congress. I do not know why my name is being included. I have not signed any paper, nor am I associated with that group in any way,' she said.
Her denial came as political speculation intensified over a possible fracture within the Trinamool Congressional Parliamentary Party — a development that, if formalised, could carry significant constitutional consequences under the Tenth Schedule, commonly known as the Anti-Defection Law.
Mamata's Delhi Visit and INDIA Bloc Unity
Mondal also addressed Trinamool supremo and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's recent visit to Delhi, during which Banerjee met senior opposition leaders including Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.
'Mamata Didi went to Delhi to meet Sonia Gandhi and other leaders of the INDIA bloc. The alliance is united and will continue to fight together against the Centre. After the meeting, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi also held discussions,' Mondal said.
On Banerjee's potential role in national politics, Mondal said she believed the Trinamool chief could meaningfully strengthen the opposition. 'I feel that if Mamata Banerjee comes forward and takes a larger role in the fight, the situation for the opposition will improve in the future. The public also wants this,' she added.
Notably, Mondal also raised the prospect of a Congress-Trinamool realignment, pointing to Banerjee's political origins. 'She was earlier a part of the Congress before forming her own party. If at any point she wishes to merge with the Congress, it would only be a positive development,' she said.
The Rebel Bloc: Numbers and Constitutional Stakes
According to reports, approximately 20 Trinamool MPs have signalled their intent to function as a separate parliamentary group while supporting the NDA on key legislative votes — without formally merging with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal on Thursday dismissed these reports as 'rumours'.
The constitutional arithmetic is precise. Trinamool won 28 of West Bengal's 42 Lok Sabha seats in the last general election; with the Basirhat seat currently vacant, the party's effective parliamentary strength stands at 27. Under the Anti-Defection Law, a recognised split requires the backing of at least two-thirds of members — meaning a minimum of 19 MPs must be on board to avoid disqualification. A group of 20, if verified, would clear that threshold.
What This Could Mean for Parliament
The NDA currently commands the support of 293 members in the 543-member Lok Sabha. An additional bloc of 20 would further consolidate the ruling alliance's legislative position. Bills that could benefit include those related to delimitation, the 33 per cent women's reservation in legislatures, the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill on simultaneous elections, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 — all at various stages of parliamentary consideration.
This comes amid a broader pattern of opposition fragmentation ahead of critical legislative sessions, making the Trinamool's internal cohesion a key variable in national political calculations in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
The group falls below the anti-defection threshold and every member faces disqualification. The real story here is not the rebel bloc itself but what it reveals about Mamata Banerjee's weakening grip on her parliamentary contingent — a vulnerability the BJP will be watching closely as landmark bills queue up for votes.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the alleged Trinamool Congress rebel bloc?
It is a reported group of around 20 Trinamool Congress MPs who have allegedly indicated their intent to function as a separate parliamentary unit and extend support to the NDA on key legislative votes, without formally merging with the BJP. The reports have not been officially confirmed by any named member of the group.
Why did Pratima Mondal deny being part of the rebel bloc?
Mondal said her name was included in the group without her knowledge or consent, and that she had not signed any document nor associated with the group in any way. She made the denial in direct remarks to reporters on 11 June.
How does the Anti-Defection Law apply to this situation?
Under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, a split within a legislature party is legally recognised — and members protected from disqualification — only if at least two-thirds of the party's MPs back it. With Trinamool's current Lok Sabha strength at 27, a minimum of 19 MPs are needed. The reported group of 20, if verified, would clear this threshold.
What is the NDA's current Lok Sabha strength, and how would 20 extra MPs help?
The NDA currently has the support of 293 members in the 543-member Lok Sabha. An additional bloc of 20 would strengthen its position on key bills including the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill on simultaneous elections, the 33 per cent women's reservation legislation, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
What did Mamata Banerjee's Delhi visit involve?
According to Mondal, Banerjee travelled to Delhi and met Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, among other INDIA bloc leaders. Mondal described the INDIA bloc as 'united' and said the alliance would 'continue to fight together against the Centre'.
