Kolkata, June 7: The West Bengal government has increased security for five Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLAs from Birbhum district who supported Ritabrata Banerjee as the leader of the opposition in the state assembly. A senior official confirmed this information on Sunday.
The enhanced security includes Faizul Haque (Kajal Sheikh), the president of the Birbhum district council and MLA from Hansan, Rajendra Prasad Singh from Nalhati, Mosharraf Hussain from Murarai, former minister Chandranath Sinha from Bolpur, and Bidhan Chandra Majhi from Nanur.
Sources indicate that all five MLAs defied party directives by backing Banerjee as the new opposition leader. In light of concerns for their safety due to this decision, the state government has assigned each of them two additional armed security guards.
According to a faction within the party, this administrative move is a strategic effort to strengthen the rebel camp. However, tensions are escalating within the TMC’s legislative party in the state assembly. Political circles are abuzz with rumors that this rebellion may soon reach the national capital, Delhi.
If these speculations hold true, significant rifts could emerge within the parliamentary party as well. Nearly two-thirds of TMC’s Lok Sabha members are reportedly dissatisfied with the top leadership and are distancing themselves from the party, similar to the assembly group.
Insiders suggest that the ‘Good TMC’ group under Ritabrata Banerjee’s leadership, which has sparked this rebellion, may also influence events in the national capital. Senior MP Kakali Ghosh Dastidar is rumored to be contemplating a similar revolt.
Recently, Dastidar wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, filing a complaint against fellow MP Kalyan Banerjee for alleged disrespectful behavior and misogyny. She accused him of repeatedly harassing her within the Lok Sabha.
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