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Lok Sabha Notices Rebel TMC MPs On Disqualification
The Hindu··26 Aug
The Lok Sabha Secretariat issued notices to 20 rebel Trinamool Congress MPs, seeking replies within seven days on disqualification petitions filed by Abhishek Banerjee under the anti-defection law. TMC's Mahua Moitra alleged a cover-up, noting the notices were dated the same day the Supreme Court said it was concerned with concluding the proceedings within a time frame.
Prism
What It Means For You
- If you're a West Bengal voter, this determines whether the 20 rebel MPs who joined the NCPI keep their Lok Sabha seats or face disqualification.
- The case tests how quickly the Speaker must act on defection complaints, a question relevant to voters in any state where legislators switch parties after election.
- Political observers get a fresh data point on tensions between elected representatives, party leadership and the Speaker's office in enforcing anti-defection rules.
What's Happening
- The Lok Sabha Secretariat issued notices on August 25 to 20 rebel TMC MPs, giving them seven days to reply to Abhishek Banerjee's June disqualification petitions.
- Mahua Moitra alleged a cover-up on X, saying the Speaker did nothing for over two months except grant the rebels better seating, until a hearing date forced action.
- The notices came a day after the Supreme Court, while agreeing to hear Banerjee's plea, said the real question was concluding the proceedings within a time frame.
Inside The TMC's Internal Rebellion
- The 20 MPs announced they had joined or merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India, a Tripura-based outfit, and have since taken part in NDA activities.
- TMC maintains the MPs voluntarily gave up party membership, attracting disqualification, while the rebels argue their move counts as a valid merger under the law.
- The named MPs include prominent TMC faces such as Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Mala Roy, Yusuf Pathan and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, elected on the party's symbol.
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