NEW DELHI: Congress on Thursday termed the reports claiming any merger with the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC “totally baseless”, putting an end to the buzz amid mass exodus from the Trinamool. Congress general secretary KC Venugopal accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of “seat chori” after a huge number of MLAs and MPs rebelled against the TMC leadership, softening their stance towards the ruling party.”Making MPs of other parties resign and join BJP is like ‘seat-chori’,” PTI cited Venugopal saying.He added that there were “talks between TMC and Congress leadership on strengthening INDIA alliance”.TMC is grappling with internal discord, factional infighting, and a series of resignations by its Rajya Sabha members.Earlier in the day, TMC MP Prakash Chik Baraik stepped down from the Rajya Sabha, becoming the third party MP to resign within a week. His resignation follows those of TMC MPs Sushmita Dev on June 10 and Sukhendu Sekhar Ray on June 8.Amid speculation that some TMC MPs may be preparing to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Baraik was seen visiting the residence of BJP MP Nishikant Dubey
