Synopsis: TMC MP Yusuf Pathan opted out of the Operation Sindoor all-party delegation on May 19, 2025, accusing the Centre of unilateral nomination, while Congress also criticized the selection process.
New Delhi: On May 19, 2025, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP and former cricketer Yusuf Pathan withdrew from an all-party delegation tasked with promoting India’s stance on Operation Sindoor globally. TMC leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee, criticized the Centre for nominating Pathan without consulting the party, marking TMC as the only party to pull out of the initiative. The delegation aims to counter misinformation following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
TMC’s Objection to Centre’s Process: TMC expressed strong disapproval of the Centre’s unilateral decision to include Pathan, a first-time MP from Baharampur who defeated Congress’s Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in 2024. Abhishek Banerjee, speaking at Kolkata airport, emphasized that the party, not the BJP-led government, should decide its representatives. Initially, the Centre approached TMC’s Lok Sabha floor leader Sudip Bandopadhyay, who declined due to health issues, after which Pathan’s name was announced without further consultation, prompting TMC’s withdrawal.
Congress Raises Concerns Over Selection: The Congress also criticized the Centre’s selection process for the delegation. Despite submitting four names—Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, Syed Naseer Hussain, and Raja Brar—only Sharma was included. The final list featured Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari, Salman Khurshid, and Amar Singh, none of whom were Congress’s nominees. The party accused the government of “insincerity” and “cheap political games,” though it allowed its leaders to participate due to the issue’s national importance.
Conclusion: Yusuf Pathan’s withdrawal from the Operation Sindoor delegation highlights tensions over the Centre’s nomination process, with TMC and Congress demanding greater consultation.
