Half of rebel TMC MPs absent from strategy meet on disqualification notices

A significant portion of the rebel Trinamool Congress lawmakers failed to attend a strategy meeting in Kolkata on Tuesday, as the group grapples with disqualification notices issued by the Lok Sabha Speaker. Ten of the twenty MPs who recently aligned with the Nationalist Congress Party (India) were absent from the session, underlining apparent divisions within the breakaway faction.

The meeting was convened to formulate a collective response to notices sent by Speaker Om Birla following the MPs' political realignment. The notices raise the prospect of disqualification under anti-defection provisions of the Constitution, which restrict lawmakers from switching party affiliations without losing their seats.

The absence of half the rebel contingent suggests potential fractures within the group and raises questions about their unified strategy moving forward. The dissidents have been working to consolidate their position since their shift to the NCPI, but internal cohesion appears fragile as legal challenges mount.

The disqualification notices mark a critical juncture for the rebel MPs, who must submit substantive responses within the stipulated timeframe. Political analysts suggest the varying attendance at the strategy meeting may indicate disagreement over the best course of action, with some members potentially considering separate legal approaches or reconciliation with the parent party.