The surprising disintegration of Trinamool Congress has more to do with strengthening the BJP in Delhi than Bengal. Unlike Maharashtra – where a split in the Shiv Sena and subsequent split in the NCP was necessary to form a government in 2022 – such was not the case in Bengal. Here the BJP had anyway secured two-thirds majority on its own. Despite this, the disintegration of Trinamool started within a few hours of the defeat and within no time two-thirds of Trinamool MLAs in the state assembly separated and formed a rebel group under the leadership of Ritabrata Banerjee. He claimed that he is the real Trinamool. The Speaker of the Assembly also recognized him as the leader of the opposition. Subsequently, 20 Trinamool MPs in the Lok Sabha – constituting two-thirds of its total strength (28) – also contacted the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and informed him that they had merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India. The purpose of the two-thirds and merger provisions given in the Tenth Schedule was to avoid cancellation of membership of Parliament under the anti-defection law. This merger of 20 MPs took place in a party whose name had never been heard before. NCPI is a small, registered, but unrecognized party in Tripura. This party was formed in 2023 and had contested the state assembly elections, in which it got less than 1200 votes overall. Interestingly, 20 rebel Trinamool MPs did not choose to merge with the BJP. However, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who led the group, made it clear that they would support the NDA. It is possible that the BJP does not want to have to face the resentment arising from including in its camp the MPs of the party whose leaders had called it corrupt just a few weeks ago. Despite this, BJP is hoping for their support to pass important bills in the Lok Sabha. The strategy of Trinamool rebels in the Rajya Sabha appears to be different – three MPs have resigned from the House and the primary membership of the party. It is likely that when the House meets for the monsoon session of Parliament in July, we will see separate Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. It is now becoming clear that the BJP is trying to get two-thirds majority in both the houses, so that the Women’s Reservation Bill and the Delimitation Bills, which could not be passed in April this year, can be passed. The ruling party is making every possible effort to reach this number. In the developments before the dissolution of Trinamool, several meetings of rebel MPs of the party were held at the residence of Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav in Delhi. The split of Trinamool is not an isolated incident. Shiv Sena (UBT) in Maharashtra also appears to be on the verge of another split. The BJP has also adopted a different strategy towards the DMK, which had faced defeat in the recent assembly elections. He is in touch with the Dravidian Party to seek its support on the delimitation bills. DMK has been the most vocal critic of these bills. His argument is that this will harm the southern states compared to the northern states. According to available indications, the government is making changes in the bills to bring the DMK on board. If DMK joins BJP with its 22 Lok Sabha seats, it can be a big achievement for BJP. Add to this the 20 (or so) Trinamool MPs and possibly 7 Shiv Sena MPs – along with others who may abstain on bills, abstain from voting or support the government depending on the issue – and the party may soon reach the desired number. After the Left Front came to power in Bengal in 1977, Congress was marginalized. After Mamata became the Chief Minister in 2011, the Left Front also faced an existential crisis. Nevertheless, both of them did not disintegrate like what happened with Trinamool. Today we are seeing such an internal explosion in regional parties, which has never been seen before. Politics is changing rapidly. Achieving majority through divisions in parties has now become the new normal. Today we are seeing such an internal explosion in regional parties, which has never been seen before. Politics is changing rapidly. Achieving majority through divisions in parties has now become the new normal. Trinamool is an example of this. (These are the author’s own views)
Source link
Neerja Chaudhary’s column: The internal disunity seen today in regional parties is unprecedented.
