Mumbai: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has been brought to its knees by a swarm of MLAs and MPs who have deserted the party after BJP’s resounding victory in the West Bengal Assembly election ended Mamata Banerjee’s 15-year rule last month.
Former World Cup-winning cricketer Kirti Azad, one of eight Lok Sabha MPs who has remained loyal so far, hit out against the rebels, calling them “taitors.”
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut went a step farther and suggested what should be done with rebel elected TMC representatives.
Resharing a video of Azad on X, Raut controversially suggested that the rebels be “thrashed” with shoes.
Addressing Azad, Raut wrote: “The Great Kirti Azad.. Such traitors should be thrashed with shoes right on the street. The movement should be started across the entire country!”
Azad, who addressed a press conference in New Delhi alongside fellow-TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, asked why the dissident MPs were talking about their grievances with the party now.
“Our 29 leaders won in the name of ‘Maa, Maati and Maanush’ and became MPs. I want to know from these traitors – why did you speak about your difficulties after the election, why not before it?” Azad questioned.
He advised the rebels to resign and seek a fresh mandate on a BJP ticket, pointing to the case of Sukhendu Sekhar Roy resigning as TMC Rajya Sabha MP before criticising the party.
The Great @KirtiAzaad ji
ऐसे गद्दारोंको भर सडक पे जूते मारो
आंदोलन देशभर में शुरू करना चाहिये!
— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) June 9, 2026
The TMC is facing an existential crisis in West Bengal as well as Delhi.
As many as 60 of the 80 MLAs have claimed to be the ‘real TMC’ under the leadership of Ritabrata Banerjee and ‘guidance’ of Mamata. As for Delhi, 20 out of 28 Lok Sabha MPs have expressed their interest to align with the NDA.