TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee urges Speaker Birla to fast-track rebel MPs' disqualification
TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to press for a swift ruling on petitions seeking to disqualify 20 rebel members who have joined the NCPI.
In New Delhi, TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee convened with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday, seeking an accelerated decision on pending disqualification petitions against 20 MPs elected on the TMC ticket who have aligned with the NCPI. Banerjee noted that over five weeks have elapsed since the petitions were lodged, yet no formal notices, hearings, or procedural guidance have been issued. He also requested that the speaker rescind recent alterations to the party’s seating plan, which placed the dissenting members in a separate block.
The meeting, lasting about twenty minutes, concluded without a clear response from Birla. Banerjee underscored the urgency, citing parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju’s move to invite the rebels to a July 19 all-party gathering as further justification for a prompt ruling.
Why it matters
The outcome will determine whether the rebel MPs can retain their seats and affect the balance of power in India's lower house.
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