Key Facts
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and Lok Sabha floor leader Abhishek Banerjee on Friday met Speaker Om Birla and submitted 20 separate petitions seeking disqualification of 20 rebel TMC MPs. These MPs had earlier met the Speaker and demanded recognition as a separate group, claiming they had merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), a little-known registered unrecognized political party based in Howrah, West Bengal.
Of the 29 TMC MPs elected in 2024, one seat is vacant due to the death of an MP. The remaining 28 include the 20 rebels and 8 loyalists. Banerjee was accompanied by MPs Saugata Roy, Kalyan Banerjee, Mahua Moitra, and Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien.
Details of the Disqualification Plea
Abhishek Banerjee argued that the rebel MPs had voluntarily given up TMC membership and attempted an invalid merger. He cited the Tenth Schedule (anti-defection law) which states that if a member leaves their party, they are disqualified. He also emphasized that the merger rule requires two-thirds of the entire party to merge, not just a few legislators.
“Twenty people met the speaker and claimed they should be treated as a separate group. Later, we got to know those MPs claimed to have joined another party, NCPI; nobody has heard the name of this group. Even they had not heard the name of this party,” Banerjee said.
He added, “So if they have been elected on a symbol and are claiming after two years that they are joining a new party, their membership should go.”
Impact and Political Implications
If the Speaker accepts the rebels' plea, NCPI would become the second-largest NDA constituent in Lok Sabha, ahead of TDP (16 MPs) and JDU (12 MPs). The BJP has 239 members (excluding Speaker). The NCPI was registered in January 2023 with an address in Sankrail, Howrah.
Banerjee accused the rebels of selling their self-respect and joining hands with the BJP. “Someone has to escape ED, CBI... Some are getting money, or being threatened... They are joining hands with the BJP because they can't fight; there is no space for such people in Bengal politics,” he said.
He also claimed to have concrete proof and challenged the rebels to approach court if they objected.
What the Law Says
Former Lok Sabha secretary general P D T Achary explained that paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule allows merger only when the original political party merges with another, and at least two-thirds of the legislature party agrees. Individual MPs cannot merge. An EC official said NCPI will have to report developments to the poll body in due course.
What Readers Should Know
- The Speaker has said he will listen to the other side and call TMC again.
- Banerjee also submitted court judgments related to the Tenth Schedule.
- The rebel MPs are seeking separate sitting arrangement, a Lok Sabha leader, and chief whip, which Banerjee termed impossible before disqualification.
FAQ
Why did TMC seek disqualification of 20 MPs?
TMC claims these MPs voluntarily left the party and attempted to merge with the unrecognized Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), violating the anti-defection law.
What is the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution?
The Tenth Schedule, also known as the anti-defection law, disqualifies MPs or MLAs if they voluntarily give up membership of their political party or vote against the party's whip.
Can MPs merge with another party on their own?
No, as per the Tenth Schedule, only a political party can merge with another, and that requires agreement of at least two-thirds of the party's legislators. Individual MPs cannot merge.
What did the Speaker say on the matter?
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has said he will hear the other side and call TMC again before making a decision.