Kolkata: With dissent within the Trinamool Congress refusing to abate, MP Kirti Azad accused the BJP on Friday of causing the rift within the Mamata Banerjee-led party, quipping: “Operation Lotus never fails”.

Rebel TMC MPs Surface Amid Internal Turmoil

The former cricketer’s reaction comes after three pages carrying signatures of 19 rebel Trinamool MPs surfaced earlier in the day, reportedly claiming to be the main and majority bloc of the party’s representation in the Lok Sabha.

Speaking to IANS, Azad said: “There is no loss for Trinamool Congress. The party stands on the name of Mamata Banerjee. She has built the party through struggle. No one can claim that they win elections in Trinamool solely in their individual capacity. Such kind of thinking is a misconception.”

BJP Accused of Intimidation and Engineering Defections

Regarding the rebel MPs, he said: “We knew they would go; five to six of them had CID raids at their residences. BJP workers were threatening them, and the police were not allowing locals to come in. Houses of the first-time MPs were demolished, so they were scared. We knew that some of them might take a decision like this.”

Targeting the BJP, Kirti Azad said: “Operation Lotus never fails.”

Allegations Over Signature Collection and Timing of Revolt

However, he questioned why the rebel MPs were taking such a decision only after the party lost the Assembly polls.

“It is evident from the signatures in the letter that those were not taken on one day, and instead taken from MPs at different points of time. The ink used for the signatures by the MPs is starkly different from each other,” he alleged.

Leadership Issues Within TMC Addressed

Responding to a question over Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee’s ultimatum to Mamata Banerjee, Azad said the party leadership would handle the matter.

He added that there does not appear to be any possibility of Banerjee leaving the party.

BJP Accused of Weakening Opposition Parties

Further, he accused the BJP of attempting to weaken opposition parties, citing splits in other regional outfits.

“Shiv Sena and NCP have already been split. Nitish Kumar has been removed from his position as Chief Minister and sent to the Rajya Sabha. JJP in Haryana has also been destroyed by them,” he alleged.

He also remarked on the need for two-thirds support in Parliament for passing the Delimitation Bill.