Operation Lotus Has Failed: Kirti Azad Dismisses Claims Of 20 TMC MPs Backing NDA

Senior TMC leader Kirti Azad has rubbished a viral list claiming a mass defection of party parliamentarians to the ruling alliance, calling the narrative a fabricated attempt to sow discord.

The political corridors of Kolkata and New Delhi were set abuzz this week by a viral graphic that purportedly listed 20 TMC MPs ready to jump ship to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The document, which circulated rapidly across social media platforms, included the names of high-profile party figures such as Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Saugata Roy, and কাকলি ঘোষ দস্তিদার. However, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has moved swiftly to douse the flames of speculation, terming the entire episode a desperate "Operation Lotus" maneuver gone wrong.

A Direct Rebuttal

Kirti Azad, a prominent TMC leader, took to X to label the list "fake and fabricated." He asserted that the BJP was behind the circulation of the document, using it as a pressure tactic to create an artificial sense of internal crisis within Mamata Banerjee’s party. Azad pointedly noted that several individuals named in the viral list have already categorically denied signing any such documents or pledging support to the NDA.

"Operation Lotus has failed. Amit Shah has failed," Azad declared, dismissing the narrative as a manufactured attempt to destabilize the party. The list was comprehensive, naming senior leaders alongside newer faces like actor-turned-politicians June Malia and Rachna Banerjee, as well as cricketers-turned-MPs like Yusuf Pathan and Deepak Adhikari (Dev). Despite the gravity of the allegations, there has been no formal statement from any of the individuals named on the list confirming an intent to defect.

Why it matters

This incident unfolds against a backdrop of genuine political churn. The resignation of senior leader Sukhendu Shekhar Ray from both the party and the Rajya Sabha has provided enough oxygen for such rumors to catch fire. In Indian politics, the "poaching" narrative is a well-worn playbook; by circulating a list of names, political opponents can force a party to spend time defending its own ranks rather than focusing on legislative or electoral agendas.

For the TMC, the immediate challenge is to project unity as it navigates internal dissent and pressures from the central government. The ease with which a digital graphic can disrupt political discourse shows how volatile the current landscape is. Whether this is a one-off attempt at psychological warfare or a precursor to actual legislative realignments remains to be seen, but for now, the leadership is keeping its house in order by aggressively debunking the "fake" list.

The Bigger Picture

The pattern here is clear: whenever there is a murmur of dissent or a high-profile resignation, the rumor mill immediately shifts into overdrive. The BJP’s "Operation Lotus" label has become a permanent feature of Indian political vocabulary, used to describe the party's aggressive efforts to consolidate power. While the TMC has successfully managed to dismiss these specific claims, the frequency of such reports indicates that the battle for control over party loyalty in West Bengal is far from over.