Politics · India Bureau
Supreme Court Issues Notice on TMC Plea Over Rebel MPs' Disqualification
The Supreme Court has taken cognizance of a plea by Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee seeking a time-bound judicial decision on the disqualification of 20 rebel TMC lawmakers. The legal challenge arises following a major split within the party's parliamentary faction.
LSN India ·
The Trinamool Congress has approached India's apex court seeking urgent intervention in the matter of 20 Lok Sabha members who defected from the party. These lawmakers had announced their merger with the National Congress Party of India (NCPI), a Tripura-based political formation, and subsequently sought separate recognition in the House.
Banerjee's petition requests the Supreme Court to expedite proceedings and deliver a time-bound decision on whether these rebel MPs should face disqualification under the anti-defection law. The plea underscores the urgency with which the TMC seeks judicial clarity on the status of the departing legislators.
The mass defection represents a significant fracture within the TMC's parliamentary strength and has prompted the party to invoke constitutional provisions governing political party membership and representation. The NCPI, based in Tripura, has positioned itself as the beneficiary of the merger, claiming absorption of the breakaway TMC contingent.
The Supreme Court's issuance of a notice indicates the bench has admitted the plea for consideration, setting the stage for detailed hearings on the substantive issues of disqualification and parliamentary recognition. The case touches upon key constitutional questions regarding the scope and application of anti-defection legislation in Indian parliamentary practice.