TMC rebel MPs: Lok Sabha Secretariat issues notices to 20 MPs; seeks replies in 7 days

Lok Sabha Secretariat issues notices to 20 rebel TMC MPs over disqualification pleas

New Delhi: The Lok Sabha Secretariat has issued notices to 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs and sought their responses within seven days to petitions filed by TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee seeking their disqualification under the anti-defection law, sources said.

The notices, dated August 25, include copies of Banerjee’s petitions, filed on June 18, against the MPs who have joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). The notices were issued under Rule 6 of the Members of Lok Sabha (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1985.

The MPs have been asked to submit their comments on the petitions within seven days of receiving the notices, according to the sources.

The development comes a day after the Supreme Court agreed to hear Banerjee’s plea seeking an early decision on the disqualification petitions.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana agreed to hear Banerjee’s plea, which alleged a delay in deciding the disqualification proceedings.

The Supreme Court issued notices to the 20 rebel MPs but did not issue notices to the Lok Sabha Speaker or the secretary-general after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said he was representing them.

During the hearing, the court observed that the issue was not merely about issuing notices but about ensuring that the proceedings were concluded within a time frame.

Banerjee had earlier filed separate disqualification petitions against the 20 MPs and subsequently sought their expedited disposal. He also met the Lok Sabha Speaker on August 12 after sending a written reminder on July 27.

TMC-NCPI dispute

The dispute stems from a rebellion within the TMC parliamentary party after 20 of its Lok Sabha MPs announced that they had joined or merged with the NCPI, a Tripura-based political outfit, and sought separate recognition in Parliament.

The rebel MPs have since been treated as an NCPI group in the House and have participated in NDA parliamentary activities.

The TMC has argued that the MPs were elected on its symbol and that joining another political formation amounts to voluntarily giving up membership of the party, making them liable for disqualification under the anti-defection law.

The rebel camp, however, has maintained that its move amounts to a valid merger.

The 20 MPs named in Banerjee’s petitions are Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Satabdi Roy, Prasun Banerjee, Rachana Banerjee, Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, Partha Bhowmick, Arup Chakraborty, Adhikari Deepak Dev, Sayani Ghosh, Bapi Haldar, Md Abu Taher Khan, Kalipada Saren Kherwal, Asit Kumar Mal, June Maliah, Mitali Bag, Khalilur Rahaman, Mala Roy, Sharmila Sarkar and Yusuf Pathan.