Mahua Moitra’s scathing ‘spine’ jibe: Is the TMC staring at a fresh internal rebellion?

In a fiery social media outburst, TMC firebrand Mahua Moitra has openly accused fellow MP Yusuf Pathan of shifting loyalties toward the BJP following a reported summons from Amit Shah.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is witnessing an unprecedented level of internal friction as the post-election landscape shifts in West Bengal. Mahua Moitra, known for her sharp political tongue, took to X on June 8 to publicly question the allegiance of Yusuf Pathan, the former cricketer turned MP from Baharampur. Directing her frustration at Pathan, Moitra demanded to know if he was making a hasty trip to Delhi at the behest of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The public call-out was blunt: “You played for India. Our district voted you in with a huge margin. Have some shame & some spine.” Moitra’s post serves as a barometer for the growing anxieties within the TMC ranks. The accusation suggests that Pathan, who secured a massive 85,022-vote victory by defeating Congress veteran Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in a historic 2024 win, may be considering a political pivot that would betray the mandate of the Baharampur electorate.

A party on the edge

This isn't just about one cricketer. Moitra’s outburst comes amid persistent rumors that nearly 20 TMC Lok Sabha MPs are actively looking to form a breakaway faction to align with the NDA. The TMC, which banked heavily on the popularity of figures like Pathan to consolidate the Muslim vote in Murshidabad and beyond, now finds its winning strategy turning into a potential liability.

Moitra didn't mince words for any other fence-sitters in her party, challenging them to resign their seats and contest on a BJP ticket if they are dissatisfied with the party’s current direction. Her challenge—"Let’s see what big heroes you are"—highlights the bitter power struggle currently brewing beneath the surface of the TMC’s parliamentary contingent.

Why it matters

The broader implication here is a crisis of stability. When an MP who effectively dismantled a five-term Congress stronghold in Baharampur is accused of flirting with the opposition, it points to a significant breakdown in central command within the TMC. For the voter, this creates a volatile environment where the mandate of 2024 is being treated as a fluid asset rather than a fixed commitment. If these reports of a 20-member rebel group hold any weight, the TMC may face a severe test of its survival in the coming months, turning the internal squabble into a full-blown parliamentary challenge for Mamata Banerjee.

The situation remains fluid. While Moitra has made her stance clear, the silence from other party quarters suggests that the TMC leadership is desperately trying to contain a potential exodus that could fundamentally alter the political arithmetic in West Bengal.