Claim
TMC has 28 Lok Sabha MPs in total, of whom 20 have split away — one more than the 19 needed for a two-thirds majority, leaving Mamata with 8 MPs.
“लोकसभा में टीएमसी के कुल कितने सांसद हैं? 28। इनमें से 20 सांसद अलग हो चुके हैं। दो तिहाई निकालूं मैं 28 का तो 19... बागी सांसदों की संख्या 19 होनी चाहिए। 20 हो गई।”▶ Watch source segment
Rationale
As of the 2026-07-02 broadcast, reputable reporting confirms TMC held 28 Lok Sabha seats (29 won in 2024, reduced to 28 after a vacancy), that 20 MPs split to back the NDA, and that 28−20 leaves 8 with Mamata. Two-thirds of 28 is 18.67, requiring 19, so 20 is indeed one more than the threshold. The anchor's arithmetic and factual figures all match primary sources; the only minor imprecision is that the '8 remaining' counts the vacant seat, but this does not materially alter the claim.
Evidence
- https://theprint.in/india/20-tmc-mps-write-to-speaker-backing-nda-triggering-split-in-partys-lok-sabha-unit/2954070/ Confirms TMC's total Lok Sabha strength is 28 (including one vacancy following a death) and that 20 MPs led by Chief Whip Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar wrote to the Speaker backing the NDA, described as comfortably crossing the two-thirds anti-defection threshold. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/20-tmc-mps-write-to-speaker-backing-nda-triggering-split-in-partys-lok-sabha-unit-1962160 Reports the same split of 20 TMC Lok Sabha MPs backing the NDA, corroborating the rebel count. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.isas.nus.edu.sg/papers/the-tmc-disintegrates-in-bengal/ Academic analysis stating the 20 rebels exceed two-thirds of TMC's 28-member Lok Sabha strength, so anti-defection provisions do not apply; contextualizes the crisis after the 2026 WB assembly defeat. ✗ unreachable · HTTP 200
- https://www.indiatvnews.com/west-bengal/news-west-bengal-lok-sabha-elections-2024-tmc-bjp-mamata-banerjee-vote-counting-constituencies-2024-06-04-935097 TMC won 29 Lok Sabha seats in 2024; strength dropping to 28 by mid-2026 is consistent with one vacancy from a death. ✓ reachable · archived