NEW DELHI: In a significant political development, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has withdrawn its Member of Parliament, Yusuf Pathan, from a multi-party delegation organized by the central government to rally international support against terrorism, particularly in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack. The TMC’s decision stems from the Centre’s unilateral inclusion of Pathan’s name without prior consultation with the party leadership.
The central government had announced the formation of seven multi-party delegations comprising 51 MPs to visit various countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore, as part of a diplomatic outreach to highlight India’s stance against terrorism. Yusuf Pathan, a former cricketer turned politician representing Baharampur in West Bengal, was named as the TMC representative in one such delegation.
However, TMC leaders expressed strong objections to the Centre’s decision, emphasizing that the selection of party representatives for such delegations should be made by the party itself.
TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee stated, “How can the Union government decide on the representative of Trinamool? They should have held discussions with the Opposition to decide which representative a party will send.”
Mamata Banerjee Emphasizes Party Autonomy
West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee also criticized the Centre’s approach, asserting that the party was not boycotting the diplomatic effort but insisted on the right to choose its own representatives. She remarked, “They cannot decide the member’s name on their own. It is not their choice but of the party. If they request me to send someone, we will decide the name and will tell them.”
Banerjee further clarified that the TMC supports the central government’s external affairs policy and is fully committed to national interests. However, she emphasized the importance of following established protocols and respecting party autonomy in such matters.
BJP Criticizes TMC’s Withdrawal
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) responded to the TMC’s decision with criticism, accusing Mamata Banerjee of politicizing a national issue. BJP co-incharge for West Bengal, Amit Malviya, stated, “West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s decision to force the TMC MP to withdraw from the multi-party delegation is unfortunate.”
He further alleged that the TMC’s actions send a message that the party is unwilling to speak out against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
Broader Implications and Party Positions
The incident has highlighted ongoing tensions between the TMC and the central government regarding procedural respect and political autonomy. While the TMC has withdrawn its participation due to procedural concerns, the party maintains its support for the nation’s anti-terrorism efforts.
The Congress party also raised objections to the Centre’s selection process for the delegations. Despite providing a list of nominees, the final delegation included individuals not nominated by the party. However, the Congress allowed its leaders to join the delegation, emphasizing the importance of the issue.
As the delegations proceed with their international outreach, the TMC’s withdrawal underscores the need for collaborative decision-making and respect for party autonomy in matters of national significance.
