Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, urging him not to recognise any group claiming to be a separate faction of the party. The move comes ahead of a planned meeting between rebel TMC MPs and the Speaker on Monday, where the dissident camp intends to seek recognition as a separate parliamentary bloc.
Banerjee's letter to Speaker
In his letter dated June 10, submitted on Sunday by TMC MPs Sagarika Ghose and Kirti Azad at Birla's residence, Banerjee requested that the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) be treated as a single political party represented in the House solely through its duly authorised leader and whip. He urged the Speaker to decline any recognition, status, or facility to any purported separate group or faction of the AITC.
Banerjee also demanded that the party be given an opportunity to present its case before any decision is taken on any communication from dissident MPs. He emphasised that any merger claim would require both a merger of the political party and the support of two-thirds of legislators, and that satisfying only one condition would not be sufficient under the law.
Anti-defection warning
The TMC leader stated that the party reserves its right to initiate proceedings under the anti-defection law against any conduct violating the provisions of the Tenth Schedule. He stressed that the party's parliamentary strength should not be undermined by any unauthorised faction.
Rebel MPs' stance
The dissident camp claims to have the backing of 22 Lok Sabha MPs and will meet the Speaker on Monday to seek recognition as a separate parliamentary bloc. Rebel MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, speaking to reporters at Kolkata airport before leaving for New Delhi, said two more Lok Sabha members were expected to join the faction shortly, which would take its strength to 22.
“We are meeting the Speaker tomorrow and will seek recognition as a separate parliamentary bloc,” she said.
Background of the rebellion
The Mamata Banerjee-led party is facing a massive rebellion among its lawmakers after its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly election. The battle for control of the TMC is being fought simultaneously in Parliament and the West Bengal Assembly. Last week, 64 of the party's 80 MLAs broke away and secured recognition as a separate legislative formation from Speaker Rathindra Bose, with Ritabrata Banerjee being recognised as the Leader of Opposition. That decision has been challenged by the Mamata Banerjee-led faction before the Calcutta High Court.
Legal implications
Banerjee argued that under the anti-defection law, any split or merger must meet strict criteria. He contended that a merger claim requires both a merger of the political party and the support of two-thirds of legislators. The rebel camp has maintained that it enjoys the support of a majority of the party's parliamentary strength, but Banerjee insisted that the party should be treated as a single entity until due process is followed.
The TMC's letter to the Speaker underscores the deepening rift within the party and sets the stage for a legal and political battle over the legitimacy of the rebel faction.
