Dissident TMC MPs face Lok Sabha show-cause notices on disqualification

The Lok Sabha Secretariat has served notices on dissidentin Trinamool Congress (TMC) lawmakers, requiring them to submit their replies to pending disqualification petitions within a week. The development marks an escalation in the ongoing political dispute within West Bengal's ruling party, which has seen several legislators challenge the party leadership.

The notices were issued following formal disqualification petitions filed against the rebel members. Under parliamentary procedures, legislators facing such petitions are given an opportunity to present their case before any decision is taken on their parliamentary status. The seven-day response deadline underscores the urgency with which the matter is being processed.

The timing of the notices assumes significance following the Supreme Court's recent agreement to hear a plea from senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee seeking expedited proceedings on the disqualification petitions. Banerjee's intervention suggests mounting pressure within the party to resolve the internal dispute swiftly, given potential implications for the TMC's strength in the lower house.

The disqualification row reflects broader factional tensions within the TMC, which has dominated West Bengal politics for over a decade. These internal conflicts have periodically played out in Parliament, with various lawmakers challenging party discipline and seeking to chart independent courses.