On Monday, the Trinamool Congress filed a petition with the Supreme Court regarding the ongoing delay in the disqualification process for 20 rebel MPs. These MPs have formed an alliance with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). This legal move underscores the party’s urgency in addressing the situation surrounding its dissenting members.
TMC seeks directions for Speaker to decide on disqualification of rebel MPs
The next day, MP Rachana Banerjee submitted a similar letter. The merger has not yet been approved. Abhishek has, in his plea, challenged the alleged delay in deciding the disqualification proceedings initiated against the MPs. They have since been treated as an NCPI group in the Parliament and participated in NDA parliamentary activities. However, the TMC has maintained that the MPs were elected on their party symbol and their decision to align with another party amounts to voluntarily giving up membership of TMC, thus attracting disqualification under the anti-defection law. TMC rebel leaders, both in West Bengal Assembly and Parliament, are waiting for a decision on their official status.
The 20 rebel MPs, who had split from the TMC, want to merge with the nondescript Nationalist Citizens Party of India, which supports the National Democratic Alliance. 19 of these MPs had on June 14 submitted a petition to Lok Sabha Speaker Birla, seeking recognition of their merger with NCPI. The 20 rebel MPs of TMC have sought recognition of their merger with the Tripura-based NCPI. In the Assembly, the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction of 62 legislators have split from the party.
He has sought directions for the Lok Sabha Speaker to decide the disqualification petitions in accordance with the anti-defection provisions of the Constitution, according to the PTI report. However, there is still no official clarity on the timeline of resolution of their issues, official said, according to an earlier HT report .
The plea has been listed for a hearing on August 25 by a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, according to the Supreme Court website.
