TMC Delegation Led by Abhishek Banerjee Meets Lok Sabha Speaker Over Rebel MPs' Demands Seeking Separate Seating Arrangements

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee, accompanied by senior party MPs, met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday amid an emerging internal rift within the party.

The meeting focused on a petition filed by a group of 20 rebel TMC MPs seeking separate seating arrangements in the Lok Sabha and formal recognition for a new political outfit called NCPI. The Speaker is expected to take a decision on the petition before the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament in July.

The delegation, which included prominent TMC faces such as Kalyan Banerjee and Mahua Moitra, represented the core leadership loyal to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The discussions reportedly addressed the proposal by the rebel faction of 20 MPs to merge with the NCPI and extend support to the NDA alliance.

Abhishek Banerjee and the TMC delegation submitted 20 separate disqualification petitions against rebel party MPs, alleging violation of the anti-defection law under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Banerjee sharply criticised the rebel lawmakers, accusing them of forming a separate group and later claiming a merger with an unknown outfit.

"...20 MPs of TMC met Speaker 3-4 days ago and claimed to form their separate group. As per the media, they have claimed to be treated as a separate group. Then 2-4 of them claimed a few hours later to have merged with NCPI which none of us heard of...I, as Leader of Lok Sabha of TMC, have submitted 20 different disqualification petitions...The 10th Schedule is against them, against these people who claim to have formed a separate group. If they have even a little integrity, they should resign from their post," Banerjee said.

He further alleged that the rebels had compromised their principles. 

"These 20 (rebel MPs) cheated people and disobeyed and disrespected the Constitution. They have sold their conscience, respect and integrity. People of Bengal will never forgive them," he asserted.

Banerjee claimed several rebel MPs were provided central security and suggested their actions were motivated by fear of central agencies or other inducements. 

"Several of them (rebel MPs) have been provided with central security...There is no person in the constituency who is standing with them. They want to protect themselves from ED, CBI. Some of them are getting money and some others are being threatened, I have concrete proof of the same. If any MP finds my words offensive, they should file a case against me; I will prove it before the court of law, whatever I have," he added.

The TMC leader also raised concerns about a lack of level-playing field in politics, citing examples from other states.

"We absolutely do not have the level-playing field. I am saying this because parties are being broken - not just in Bengal but also in Maharashtra. Shiv Sena was broken into two and other second half is being further broken for their own benefit. They want to change the Constitution at any cost," Banerjee said.

He recounted instances of enforcement actions against TMC leaders, including himself and party supremo Mamata Banerjee, but emphasised that the party had presented its case before the Speaker. 

"I have been served 5 summons, I appeared before CID, ED and my house was raided twice. Mamata ji was raided, her security was changed. Security of all of us was withdrawn...But we have presented our case before the Speaker and we have requested action at the earliest," he said.

Banerjee said the party has left the matter to the Speaker's judgment. 

"Whether we go to the Court or explore any legal remedies is a hypothetical question. But we have left it to the judgment and wisdom of the Speaker. He has said that he will hear the other side too and then call us again...I hope the Lok Sabha Speaker will work as per the Constitution and not strangulate the Constitution," he told reporters.

TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, who accompanied Abhishek Banerjee, stressed that the issue pertains to the integrity of the political party rather than mere numbers. 

"This is not about numbers. It is about political party. Only when the political party merges, does the merging take place," he said.

When asked about the real TMC, Abhishek Banerjee pointed to constitutional provisions on mergers. 

“...They (rebel MPs) can say anything. This (constitution) will not be wrong. It is written here that the merger will happen only when two third party merge. Where did the merger happen? Twenty MPs left, right? Twenty MPs left. Why they left, only they can tell,” he said.

The development underscores growing tensions within the TMC parliamentary party ahead of the Monsoon Session, as the party grapples with reported dissent and attempts at a potential split.