West Bengal Chief Minister claims support of 275 MLAs for possible floor test

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari claims the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party will secure the support of 275 MLAs in the 294-member West Bengal Legislative Assembly if a floor test takes place.

Rebellions And Reactions

Mr. Adhikari states that 64 legislators elected on Trinamool Congress tickets are ready to back him. The BJP holds 209 seats in the State Assembly after elections earlier this year. Around 65 Trinamool Congress MLAs previously supported Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition and split from Mamata Banerjee. These rebel legislators are also referred to as the Democratic Trinamool Congress. Mamata Banerjee loyalists allege the BJP engineered these defections. Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh says these remarks prove the rebel faction are agents of the BJP. CPI(M) leader Shatarup Ghosh suggests taking these comments to court to remove Mr. Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition. Akhruzzaman, the Opposition Chief Whip and a member of the rebel group, states their policy is to keep equal distance from all parties, including the BJP.

Wider Party Split

This state-level rebellion led to Mamata Banerjee losing control over her party name and symbol. Meanwhile, 20 Lok Sabha MPs from her party have merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India. The Nationalist Citizens Party of India asked Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for a two-week extension until November 3, 2026, to answer a disqualification petition filed by the Mamata Banerjee faction.

Context

Floor tests are used in legislative assemblies to prove whether a government holds a majority of support among elected members. Party splits and floor tests are key parts of legislative politics in India when ruling majorities shift. Defection rules and petitions often go through party whips and legislative speakers or courts for final legal resolution.