TMC News LIVE Updates: NCPI ready to accept merger of rebel TMC MPs, says Kakoli Dastidar

The ED has sought financial and property-related documents of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee's company, 'Leaps and Bounds', as part of its ongoing probe into the primary teacher recruitment scam in West Bengal, an official told PTI on Tuesday.

The development came a day after Banerjee appeared before Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials at the CGO Complex here and underwent nearly 11 hours of questioning in connection with the money laundering investigation linked to the recruitment irregularities.

On egg thrown on him outside party chairperson and former CM Mamata Banerjee's residence, TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh says, "...Throwing of eggs is not an issue. The issue is that this happened in front of Mamata Banerjee's residence. She has Z category protection and an attack is being done there. During the CID raid at Mamata Banerjee's residence four days ago, the CID had brought two independent witnesses. We have information that one of them was the same person who attacked yesterday. So, did he come there to do recce? CID had brought him there and made him enter Mamata Banerjee's residence...Two arrests were made and they were given interim bail. But the basic question is that how was the attacker made to enter Mamata Didi's house by the CID, as an independent witness?...Who gave his name to the CID?..I am writing to the CID about it..."

On concerns over the legitimacy of the rebel TMC faction's merger with NCPI, Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani says, "The dispute is a legitimate dispute and the 20 members of parliament, as per the latest developments, have decided to merge themselves with the NCPI and that's permissible under the merger clause, clause 4 of the 10th schedule... The anti-defection law says that if you are two-thirds in a house, and in this case, it's the Lok Sabha, then you are entitled to go and merge with a new entity such..."

TMC rebel MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay, who is one of the 20 rebels merging with Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), says, "...There are a total of 20 Lok Sabha MPs...This is not a betrayal if 2/3rd are going away. Constitution of the country allows for this. Lok Sabha allows for this. It is a betrayal if it is less than 2/3rd...Which is the 'real TMC' will be decided by the Court..."

Rebel Trinamool Congress MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar on Tuesday said the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) has agreed to accept the joining of all the dissident Lok Sabha members of her party, whose numbers are likely to go up to 22 from the present 20.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday filed an election petition before the Calcutta High Court, challenging the poll result in the Bhabanipur assembly seat she lost to BJP's Suvendu Adhikari.

Adhikari defeated Banerjee by a margin of 15,105 votes in the seat held by her.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's efforts for development as "good" and asserted that West Bengal will steer towards growth by "working together" with BJP.

His remarks come amid a growing rebellion within TMC, with a rebel faction of 20 Lok Sabha MPs announcing their intention to merge with the NCPI.

"We have always said that we have to rise above party politics and work for the people; we have to do development. He (CM Suvendu Adhikari) has spoken about development; this is good. Kolkata and Bengal will certainly develop if we work together for development," he told ANI.

TMC sources told PTI that Abhishek Banerjee got an email from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s office for a meeting at around 2 pm on Monday, asking him to meet at 4 pm while he was still being questioned by the ED.

TMC MP Kirti Azad, in response, informed the speaker's office that Banerjee was "committed to cooperating with all investigative agencies" and was cooperating with the investigation at the ED office in CGO complex in Kolkata, sources said.

Later in the day, Azad also met the speaker to inform him about the email.

Rebel TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on her party colleague and fellow MP Kalyan Banerjee, demanding his expulsion from the Lok Sabha over allegations of repeated "misogynistic" remarks and misconduct.

Speaking to ANI, Dastidar labelled him a "habitual offender" and stressed that no one should be exempt from punishment if they repeatedly disrespect women or fellow members of the House.

"A habitual offender and a misogynistic person should be punished under the law. If he repeatedly coerced honourable members or any other lady through bad names, behaves badly, he should be punished," Dastidar said.

On Monday, Dastidar had written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking the expulsion of Banerjee over allegations of repeated verbal abuse, misogynistic remarks and misconduct within the precincts of Parliament.

In a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Dastidar, MP from West Bengal's Barasat constituency, referred to an earlier complaint dated May 28, 2026, and sought the Speaker's intervention and "appropriate action" against TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee for his alleged conduct.

Dastidar alleged that Banerjee had repeatedly used "objectionable, disrespectful and inappropriate language" against her and other women Members of Parliament during House proceedings.

"Such conduct is unbecoming of a Member of Parliament and undermines the dignity, decorum and standards of parliamentary debate expected from elected representatives," the letter stated.

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee appeared before officers of the West Bengal CID on Tuesday over his alleged inflammatory statements during the Assembly election campaigning.

The TMC leader had successive marathon interrogation sessions with the CID and ED on Sunday and Monday, in connection with the alleged forgery of MLAs' signatures and the alleged primary school job scam, respectively. Last Thursday, he was grilled by the CID in connection with the signature forgery case.

The FIR against Banerjee over his alleged inflammatory statements was lodged exactly a month ago, based on a complaint filed by social activist Rajib Sarkar at Baguiati Police Station in North 24 Parganas district on May 5, a day after the assembly election results were declared.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will take a decision in the matter of TMC's rebel MPs only after hearing both sides, ANI has reported. The Speaker's office has also emailed the group of TMC MPs led by Mamata Banerjee. These MPs have been called for a meeting with the Lok Sabha Speaker. Only after this, the Speaker will take any decision related to the rebel faction, the report added.

Notably, 20 MPs from the TMC's rebel faction had met the Speaker and submitted a letter, requesting the merger of their group with the NCPI.

TMC MP Kirti Azad on Tuesday reiterated that the ‘real TMC’ is the faction led by Mamata Banerjee amid attempts by the rebels to seek recognition and the party symbol before their merger with NCPI. Terming the rebels a “party of traitors,” Azad said, “There has been infighting among these traitors. They are fighting among themselves over who will become ministers and who will get the post of Minister of State.”

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee said that he was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for 11 hours on Monday in connection with the alleged teacher recruitment scam. Banerjee said that he would not cower down and would appear before the agency if he is summoned in the future. The TMC leader also slammed the BJP, accusing it of breaking the regional party and indulging in post-poll violence.

"I was questioned for 8-8.30 hours yesterday and for 11 hours today. This is a 2023 case, and I have appeared before the agency 10-12 times. I won't say whether there is political pressure or not. The less it is said about the BJP, the better it is. On one side, they break our party and indulge in post-poll violence. Even if you slit my throat, I won't cower down. I will appear before the agency if they summon me even in the future," he said.

TMC leader Kunal Ghosh has filed a complaint at the Kalighat Police Station after he was targeted with an egg thrown at him by a local youth, urging for immediate action against the accused.

In an X post, Ghosh stated, "I have lodged an FIR at Kalighat Police Station against that animal who threw the egg. It was 11:15 pm. I came alone. That bunch of boys had gathered again, intending to misbehave. Anyway, that 'monkey' from this afternoon must be arrested immediately."