Kolkata

Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP Pratima Mondal on Thursday firmly rejected reports suggesting that she was among the party MPs who had allegedly extended support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), describing the claims as "completely false" and politically motivated.

The MP challenged those making the allegations to produce any document carrying her signature and accused them of spreading misinformation that could confuse the electorate in her constituency.

"This is absolutely fake news. People in my constituency may begin to wonder why Pratima Mondal, whom they elected on the Trinamool Congress symbol, would leave the party. Through your platform, I want to clarify that I am in Kolkata and have not even travelled to Delhi since June 4," Mondal told ANI.

Referring to claims by dissident leaders that around 20 Trinamool MPs had submitted a letter supporting the NDA, she questioned why no such document had been made public.

"If they truly have the support of 20 MPs and have been making these claims for the past two or three days, then why don't they release that letter before the media? Why don't they show the signatures and prove whether my name appears on it? I urge them not to spread fake news or mislead the people who elected me," she said.

Mondal also revealed that she had attempted to bring party colleagues together when reports of rebellion among Trinamool legislators first surfaced.

"I personally contacted some MPs and requested them to attend a meeting in Kolkata. However, they asked me to come to Delhi instead. I never received any message from them suggesting any move to rebel. Whatever they discussed with me did not seem appropriate, and that is why I chose not to go to Delhi," she said.

She added that her intention behind calling the meeting was to discuss ways to preserve unity within the party.

"At that point, several MLAs were reportedly rebelling, and I felt it was important to talk about how the party could remain united," Mondal said.

Reaffirming her loyalty to the Trinamool Congress and its supporters, the MP said she would continue to honour the trust reposed in her by the electorate.

"The people elected me on the twin-flower symbol, and I stand by that mandate. I remain with them and with the party. I will continue to serve them until 2029," she said.

Mondal further clarified that she had not been approached by any group seeking her support for a shift towards the NDA.

"Some colleagues did ask me to come to Delhi for discussions, but I was never informed about any move related to supporting another alliance," she added.

Her remarks come against the backdrop of growing turbulence within the Trinamool Congress after rebel MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar claimed that nearly 20 Trinamool MPs had written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressing support for the NDA.

The Trinamool Congress has strongly denied the existence of any such letter and insisted that the party remains united under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee.

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The latest controversy unfolds amid deepening unrest within the party following its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections, which resulted in the formation of the state's first BJP-led government headed by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.