![\"TMC](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-131671002,imgsize-57280,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/baraik-becomes-third-mp-to-resign-from-trinamool-amp-rs.jpg\" "\\"Baraik")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNEW DELHI\/KOLKATA: Twenty rebel TMC Lok Sabha MPs, over two-third of the party\u2019s 28 MPs, have written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, seeking recognition as a separate group on the lines of the breakaway faction in the West Bengal assembly and said they will support BJP-led NDA at the Centre.The letter, which has been submitted by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar in her capacity as \u201cchief whip\u201d, has given Bengal assembly Speaker\u2019s recognition of Ritabrata Banerjee-led TMC rebels, who are also over two-third of the party MLAs, as an example, sources confirmed on a day when the party suffered another setback as its RS member Prakash Chik Baraik resigned from it and the Upper House, making him the third to do so since Monday.Sukhendu Sekhar Roy and Sushmita Dev had resigned earlier from RS and the party. While LS MPs Saayoni Ghosh and Mala Ray were also leaning towards the rebel camp, Trinamool got its first breather on Thursday when three TMC LS members \u2014 Shatrughan Sinha, Pratima Mondal, and Sajda Ahmed \u2014 and RS member Babul Supriyo made it clear that they remain with Mamata Banerjee<\/a>.Baraik\u2019s letter in which he said he was resigning from RS was similar to the one written by Sushmita Dev a day earlier. Baraik is also TMC\u2019s Alipurduar district chief and was drafted into the party by Abhishek Banerjee. While Dev had called on Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma after her resignation, Baraik\u2019s first stop was the Delhi residence of BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.\u201cPeople of Bengal have given their mandate to BJP. TMC didn\u2019t win (the polls)… I am resigning,\u201d Baraik said. In an interview with PTI, he said, \u201cI will work as per the directions of CM Suvendu Adhikari and PM Narendra Modi.\u201d He, however, refused to spell out his political future with BJP.Baraik\u2019s resignation came against the backdrop of LS MPs Saayoni Ghosh and Mala Ray maintaining silence on whether they have joined the rebel camp. They did not respond to calls. Ghosh returned to Kolkata on Thursday. When journalists asked Ghosh, who was wearing a mask, about her future political moves, she walked straight to her car with her cellphone to her ear. This drew an immediate barb from TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh: \u201cI mistook it for a Covid-time photo. She is either a rebel or with the party. Why this suspense?\u201d On Mala Ray, Ghosh refrained from comment, saying only that \u201cshe (Ray) is the Kolkata South MP, a KMC chairperson. She is also unwell. What more can I say?\u201dWith almost all TMC actor-MPs making a beeline for the rebel camp, veteran actor and MP Shatrughan Sinha said he would stand by Mamata and TMC during their \u201cdifficult times\u201d. Speaking to PTI, he said, \u201cWhen I was going through a difficult phase after losing the Patna (LS) election in 2019, very few people stood by me. Mamata was among the few who supported and encouraged me. She believed I should continue in public life without any gap in my parliamentary journey, and it was on her direction that I contested from Asansol. By God\u2019s grace, and with the support of Mamata and the people of Asansol, I achieved victory. For the past few days, there has been a lot of speculation about me.\u201dHe added, \u201cI often say that if speaking the truth is considered rebellion, then I am also a rebel. I have always spoken frankly and called a spade a spade. But I want to state clearly that Mamata stood by me during my difficult times, and today, in her difficult phase, I cannot abandon her…\u201dRallying behind Mamata was another celebrity MP. RS member Babul Supriyo shared a post on X refuting speculation. \u201cAmid all this confusion and rumour, I just wish to make it clear that I am neither joining any faction nor any other party. I think it\u2019s inappropriate to abandon a ship when it is in troubled waters,\u201d he said.Uluberia MP Sajda Ahmed also broke her silence while speaking to TOI. \u201cI have not signed the letter. I am very much where people voted for me,\u201d she said. Jaynagar MP Pratima Mondal also backed Mamata. \u201cI had not signed the letter online or offline. People voted for me and for a symbol. I stand with them.\u201d<\/div>\n