TMC slams defector MPs as 'traitors', points to poll mandate

Senior Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy has hit out at party members who have switched allegiances, branding them as 'gaddar team' members while reaffirming the party's leadership under Mamata Banerjee.

Roy's remarks come in the context of recent defections from the TMC to rival parties. The veteran politician underscored that such departures do not reflect broader voter sentiment, pointing to the party's performance in the latest West Bengal Assembly elections as evidence of enduring public backing.

The TMC secured nearly 41% of the popular vote in the recent state Assembly polls, Roy noted, despite what he characterized as attempts by the Bharatiya Janata Party to exploit central investigative agencies against the party. The strong electoral performance, he argued, demonstrates that the party's core support base remains intact and committed to Mamata Banerjee's leadership.

The defections and Roy's response highlight ongoing internal tensions within the TMC, one of India's major regional political parties, even as it maintains substantial support across West Bengal. The party has faced pressure from both the BJP and the Indian National Congress in recent years, yet continues to dominate state politics.