Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, New Delhi, May 19, 2025 : A sudden political twist has emerged in the central government’s high-level diplomatic initiative, ‘Operation Sindoor’, with Trinamool Congress pulling its representative, Yusuf Pathan, from the all-party delegation scheduled for a foreign tour. The development has sparked a wave of speculation around the party’s position and its ties with the Centre.
On Saturday, the Ministry of External Affairs reportedly contacted Pathan directly and requested his passport for the upcoming diplomatic mission. However, by Sunday night, Trinamool had decided to withdraw him from the delegation, a move that has raised eyebrows both within political circles and among observers of India’s foreign policy maneuvers.
Though no formal explanation has been issued, party insiders suggest that Trinamool was irked by the Ministry bypassing internal party channels and directly approaching Pathan, a former cricketer and now a Member of Parliament from the party. This perceived breach of protocol has reportedly caused discomfort within the Trinamool leadership.
In response to the developments, Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien stated, “We are in favor of the country and national interests. But this is a matter for the International Diplomacy Center. Let them handle that.” Meanwhile, Trinamool’s All India General Secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, asserted the party’s autonomy in choosing its representatives. “Trinamool will decide who will represent the party, not the BJP. If we wish, we can nominate five people, but that decision lies with us. This is not a boycott,” he clarified. He also emphasized that Trinamool has not followed the path of complete non-participation like some other opposition parties.
The discontent appears not to be limited to Trinamool. The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) also expressed dissatisfaction, as party leader Uddhav Thackeray was reportedly not consulted before Priyanka Chaturvedi’s inclusion in the delegation. Senior Sena leader Sanjay Raut questioned the urgency and process behind the delegation’s formation, quipping, “Why is there such a rush to send this wedding party?”
The Centre’s seven-member delegation was formed to convey India’s stance globally in light of recent security concerns, including cross-border militancy and violence in Kashmir. With representatives from parties like the Congress, BJP, and NCP, the initiative was seen as a unified diplomatic front. However, Trinamool’s last-minute withdrawal is now being viewed by analysts as a subtle yet significant political signal that could influence future opposition-Centre dynamics.