TMC withdraws Yusuf Pathan from Operation Sindoor delegation

Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress has withdrawn the name of Yusuf Pathan, the cricketer-turned-politician and Lok Sabha member from West Bengal’s Baharampur constituency, from the multi-party delegation on Operation Sindoor. The decision came after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was not consulted prior to Pathan’s inclusion by the Centre.

While the party has not officially stated the reasons behind the withdrawal, sources within Trinamool Congress revealed that the leadership could not accept the Union government’s unilateral decision to appoint a party MP to the delegation without prior consultation. The party emphasizes its distinct identity and internal discipline, insisting that no such appointments should be made without the party’s approval.

A senior party leader, speaking anonymously, said that Mamata Banerjee was neither informed nor consulted about Pathan’s selection. Furthermore, the party leadership was not officially notified; instead, the MP was contacted directly for his passport details. The leader stressed that neither the BJP nor the Union government has the authority to decide unilaterally who will represent Trinamool Congress in any multi-party delegation.

Officially, Derek O’Brien, Trinamool’s Parliamentary party leader in the Rajya Sabha, clarified that while the party fully supports any initiative by the Union government taken in the national interest, it believes that international diplomacy should be the sole responsibility of the Centre.

The Trinamool leadership, including Mamata Banerjee, has maintained a cautious stance on Operation Sindoor, through which the Indian armed forces targeted terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Chief Minister has consistently refrained from commenting publicly on the operation.

Last week, when veteran party Lok Sabha member Saugata Roy made remarks regarding Operation Sindoor, the party promptly distanced itself from his comments. The party issued a statement making clear that Roy’s views did not represent the official stance of the Trinamool Congress. Alongside this, the party leadership has strongly cautioned all members against making any public comments—whether on social media, to the media, or at public meetings—on this sensitive national security matter.

The move to withdraw Yusuf Pathan’s name signals the party’s insistence on internal protocol and highlights its delicate position regarding the handling of Operation Sindoor and related diplomatic affairs.

With IANS inputs