The Exodus Continues: TMC Crisis Deepens as Prakash Chik Baraik Quits Rajya Sabha

The Trinamool Congress faces an existential threat as a third lawmaker steps down from the Rajya Sabha within a week, signaling a widening internal revolt.

The corridors of power in Kolkata and New Delhi are witnessing a dramatic unraveling. This morning, TMC MP Prakash Chik Baraik tendered his resignation from the Rajya Sabha, marking the third such high-profile exit in just seven days. For a party built on the singular, formidable brand of Mamata Banerjee, the current crisis is unprecedented. The steady trickle of departures has turned into a torrent, leaving the leadership scrambling to contain a rebellion that is no longer confined to the shadows.

A Rebellion Across Chambers

The rot began at the state level before permeating the national stage. Just last week, Speaker Rathindra Nath Bose formally recognized a bloc of 58 rebel TMC MLAs, led by Ritabrata Banerjee, as the principal Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly. This legislative recognition has emboldened dissidents, who now openly challenge the party’s central command.

The unrest has since mirrored itself in the Rajya Sabha. Following the resignations of senior leader Sukhendu Sekhar Ray—who cited poor electoral performance as his breaking point—and Sushmita Dev, whose resignation was accepted by Chairman CP Radhakrishnan effective June 10, the arrival of Baraik’s resignation confirms a systemic collapse of internal discipline.

The Rebel Camp Grows

The rebel faction is no longer a fringe group of disgruntled backbenchers; it is a formidable cohort of prominent public faces. Barasat MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who walked away from her party posts last week, claims to have the backing of nearly 20 MPs willing to align with the BJP-led NDA.

The list of those distancing themselves from the party leadership reads like a roster of the party's former core strength. From Jadavpur MP Saayoni Ghosh and Kolkata Dakshin MP Mala Roy to notable figures like Dev Adhikari, Satabdi Roy, and even the celebrity-lawmaker Yusuf Pathan, the dissent spans across regions and profiles. With names like Partha Bhowmick and Arup Chakraborty also linked to this emerging camp, the party is facing an organizational vacuum that looks increasingly difficult to fill.

Why it Matters

This is not merely a numbers game; it is a fundamental shift in Bengal’s political architecture. The speculation surrounding a potential merger with the Congress, coupled with the open flirtation of rebel MPs with the NDA, suggests that the TMC’s iron grip on its legislators has shattered.

For the observer, the bigger picture is clear: the party is caught in a pincer movement of internal stagnation and external pressure. When a political vehicle loses its ability to keep its own MPs in the Rajya Sabha and the Assembly, it usually signals a loss of confidence in the top-down leadership model. Whether this creates a new regional force or leads to a complete realignment of West Bengal's political map depends on how quickly the remaining loyalists can stabilize the ship—or if there is any ship left to sail.