Can Shatrughan Sinha save Mamata Banerjee? Saurabh Shukla reports

TMC SPLITS AS 19 MPs SIGN REBEL LETTER IN BENGAL CRISIS By Saurabh Shukla The Trinamool Congress faces its gravest political crisis in years. Nineteen Lok Sabha MPs are reportedly moving toward the BJP. Mamata Banerjee’s inner circle appears fractured, with loyalists such as Saayoni Ghosh and former ally Yusuf Pathan named in a rebel document. As a two-thirds split comes into view, a handful of veterans are mounting a last stand to prevent the party’s collapse. Can Mamata Banerjee protect the TMC symbol and survive one of the most aggressive political operations Bengal has witnessed? —— VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS 🔹 Nineteen rebel MPs sign the mutiny letter 🔹 Saayoni Ghosh spotted avoiding cameras at airport 🔹 Rebel meetings held at BJP minister Bhupender Yadav’s residence 🔹 Two-thirds anti-defection threshold crossed —— [01:34] SAAYONI GHOSH AND THE REBEL LETTER The ground is shifting rapidly beneath the TMC. A letter carrying the signatures of 19 rebel Lok Sabha MPs has surfaced, signalling the faction’s intent. Saayoni Ghosh, long regarded as one of Mamata Banerjee’s closest protégés, appears on the list. She was later spotted avoiding media attention at Kolkata airport while wearing a hooded jacket. “लेकिन अब वो दस्तखत वाली 19 लोकसभा सांसदों के दस्तखत वाली चिट्ठी सामने आ गई है जिसमें शाहनी घोष का नाम सामने नजर आता है” [01:34] —— [02:42] SHATRUGHAN SINHA DRAWS THE LINE The BJP’s operation may have gathered momentum, but it failed to secure every target. Rumours swirled that veteran actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha was preparing to leave the TMC. He shut down the speculation immediately, publicly reaffirming his loyalty to Mamata Banerjee and the party. “मैं ममता जी और तृणमूल कांग्रेस के साथ हूं मैं ममता जी और तृणमूल कांग्रेस के साथ था और मैं तृणमूल कांग्रेस और ममता जी के साथ रहूंगा” [00:15] —— [03:08] THE NUMBERS BEHIND THE BREAKAWAY This rebellion is driven by arithmetic as much as politics. Under anti-defection provisions, a breakaway faction requires support from two-thirds of a party’s MPs. With 28 Lok Sabha MPs in the TMC, the threshold stood at 19. According to the document, the rebels have reached that exact figure, creating the framework for a legally protected split reminiscent of Maharashtra’s political realignment. “एक दो तिहाई सांसद होते हैं 28 में से 19 सांसद चाहिए तोड़ने के लिए तो 19 सांसदों के दस्तखत सामने आ गए हैं” [03:55] —— [07:02] THE FAMILY FEUD INSIDE TMC The challenge facing Mamata Banerjee is no longer confined to external rivals. Internal tensions are spilling into public view. Senior leader Kalyan Banerjee has chosen to stay with the party but has openly questioned its direction. His message is clear: the leadership must decide whether experience still matters or whether the party will remain centred around Abhishek Banerjee’s growing influence. “अभिषेक बनर्जी का माफिक आदमी के ले चलेंगे तो हम नहीं” [00:07] —— [08:56] THE CONGRESS MERGER OPTION The crisis has triggered discussions at the highest levels of opposition politics. During a recent INDIA bloc meeting, Sonia Gandhi reportedly floated a dramatic proposal: merge the TMC into the Congress to shield the party’s symbol and block a potential BJP takeover. Mamata Banerjee has not accepted the proposal and continues to keep the option in reserve. “सोनिया गांधी ने उनको ऑफर दिया कि आप टीएमसी को कांग्रेस में मर्ज कर लीजिए जिससे उनका टीएमसी का सिंबल फ्रीज़ हो जाएगा” [09:01] —— ♦️If the split materialises and survives legal scrutiny, Bengal’s political balance could shift dramatically. The battle is no longer about defections alone—it is about control of the opposition’s future structure ahead of the next national contest. —— ♦️ Support fearless, independent ground reporting. Support The Red Mike. —— #bengalcrisis #tmcsplit #mamatabanerjee #politics #theredmike Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @theredmike.   The Red Mike is a new movement in centrist Journalism. We tell your stories. Ground reports the way they should be. To say what’s right, and not what is just popular. Stories from India & around the world that impact and affect you. Your Mike. Your Story. . For advertisement & Sponsorship Email us at - ads@theredmike.com WhatsApp Number: +91- 9821728111 . . . . रेड माइक पत्रकारिता में एक नया आंदोलन है। हम आपकी कहानियाँ सुनाते हैं। ग्राउंड रिपोर्ट वैसी ही जैसी होनी चाहिए. बात ऐसी जो सही हो, सिर्फ़ लोकप्रिय नहीं। भारत और दुनिया भर से कहानियाँ जो आपको प्रेरित और प्रभावित करती हैं। लाल माइक - आपका माइक, आपकी आवाज़। FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK : facebook.com/TheRedMike FOLLOW US ON TWITTER : x.com/theredmike FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM : instagram.com/theredmike FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP : whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaGhJSNCxoB5Wfdedr0Z #TheRedMike #लालमाइक #laalmike