Politics · India Bureau
Rebel TMC MPs request extended deadline for Lok Sabha disqualification reply
Twenty breakaway Trinamool Congress members have sought a three-week extension to respond to disqualification notices issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat. The MPs were originally given just seven days to submit their replies to petitions filed by party leader Abhishek Banerjee.
LSN India ·
The Lok Sabha Secretariat had issued notices to the 20 rebel TMC MPs on August 26, directing them to respond within a week to disqualification petitions initiated by Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The petitions sought the removal of these legislators from their parliamentary seats on grounds of defection or breach of party discipline.
Facing the tight deadline, the rebel MPs have now approached the Lok Sabha authorities requesting an extension of three weeks to prepare and file their detailed responses. The extension request comes as the dissidents seek to mount a comprehensive legal defense against the disqualification proceedings.
The development marks an intensification of internal party conflict within the Trinamool Congress, with the disqualification petitions representing a major escalation in the dispute. The outcome of these proceedings could significantly impact the political composition of the Lok Sabha and reshape the balance of power within the TMC's parliamentary contingent.
The Lok Sabha Secretariat's decision on the extension request is awaited, as it will determine the timeline for the next phase of proceedings. The case underscores ongoing tensions within regional parties and the mechanisms available within parliamentary procedures to address defection concerns.