KOLKATA, May 19 – Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Yusuf Pathan has opted out of a multi-nation diplomatic delegation formed by the Centre to present India’s position on Operation Sindoor, party sources confirmed on Monday.
Pathan, a former Indian cricketer and Lok Sabha MP from Baharampur, was named in a delegation led by Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Jha, which is scheduled to visit Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. However, sources said the TMC was not consulted before his name was included, prompting Pathan’s withdrawal.
While Pathan did not cite a reason for stepping aside, party leadership underscored that the move was not a boycott of the Centre’s diplomatic initiative but a matter of protocol and party autonomy.
“TMC is not boycotting the government’s diplomatic outreach. But the Centre cannot decide who represents our party. That decision must rest with the party itself,” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told reporters at the Kolkata airport.
Banerjee, who chairs the TMC’s parliamentary party in both Houses, added, “We have never been formally informed about such delegations. If they approach us officially, we will certainly nominate a representative. There is no controversy — we fully support the effort to counter terrorism.”
Echoing the sentiment, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said the Centre must show intent to collaborate with the opposition. “The Centre cannot unilaterally appoint party representatives. This should be decided by each party. If you ask us for one name, we can give you five — but we need to be included in the process,” he said.
Earlier, TMC Lok Sabha leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay had also declined an invitation to join a delegation, citing health reasons.
The Centre had announced on Sunday the formation of seven delegations comprising leaders across the political spectrum, aimed at engaging foreign governments and institutions following Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to cross-border terrorism.
The delegations are led by prominent figures including BJP’s Baijayant Panda and Ravi Shankar Prasad, JDU’s Sanjay Kumar Jha, Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Shinde, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, DMK’s Kanimozhi, and Supriya Sule from NCP-SP. They are expected to travel to 32 countries and the European Union headquarters in Brussels.
Despite its criticism of the nomination process, TMC’s stance signals support for the national interest while maintaining a firm stand on political protocol and party sovereignty.
