Six-time Trinamool Congress MP and leader of the party in Lok Sabha, Sudip Bandyopadhyay on Saturday (June 13, 2026) met Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Bhupendra Yadav sparking speculation of joining the rebel camp of Trinamool Congress MPs.

Mr. Bandyopadhyay, who has been representing Kolkata Uttar (North) Lok Sabha seat for decades, was accompanied by Birbhum Lok Sabha MP Satabdi Roy, who has already announced her allegiance to the rebel camp.

Sudip Bandyopadhyay, 77, who is older than party chairperson Mamata Banerjee (71), has been one of the most trusted aides of the latter. With his possible defection to the rebel camp, the number of MPs supporting the camp will increase to 20.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, 29 MPs of the Trinamool Congress were elected to the Lok Sabha. Basirhat Trinamool Congress MP Haji Sheikh Nurul Islam passed away in September 2024, bringing the number of Trinamool MPs to 28. With Mr. Bandyopadhyay joining the rebel ranks, the number of Mamata Banerjee loyalists has dropped to eight. Among those backing Mamata Banerjee in the Lok Sabha, the prominent names are Kalyan Banerjee, Saugata Roy, Mahua Moitra, Kirti Azad, Shatrughan Sinha, Abhishek Banerjee and others.

Sudip Bandyopadhyay’s visit to Delhi and a meeting with Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav comes days before rebel Trinamool MPs are going to meet the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and stake claim as an independent group backing the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre. The veteran MP changing political loyalties evoked strong reactions from political circles.

Mr. Bandyopadhyay’s wife Nayna Bandyopadhyay who is an MLA from Chowrangee seat is also likely to join rebel MLAs. About 60 of the 80 MLAs of the Trinamool Congress have come out against the party high command and supported expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of Opposition.

Senior BJP leader and West Bengal Industry Minister Tapas Roy, who had quit the Trinamool Congress in 2024 due to differences with Sudip Bandyopadhyay, said the Kolkata Uttar MP “will be a liability wherever he goes”.

“They were never loyalists, not even political elements. They have risen in his career by clinging to someone’s support, sometimes holding onto Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, and at other times, Mamata Banerjee. They have done absolutely nothing, neither for the public nor for any party. Now Mamata Banerjee is realising who truly stands by her,” Mr. Roy said.

Trinamool Congress MLA Kunal Ghosh, who remains loyal to Trinamool chairperson, also spoke in similar vein and launched a scathing attack on senior party leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay.

Mr. Ghosh said that Sudip Bandyopadhyay’s shift toward a rebel faction comes with his wife Nayna Bandyopadhyay also following the same path and joining those supporting the BJP. The Beleghata MLA said that Trinamool chairperson gave positions of prominence to such people and they are turning against her.