Rebel TMC MPs seek separate arrangement; Abhishek Banerjee opposes recognition to Lok Sabha Speaker

Abhishek Banerjee Writes To Lok Sabha Speaker, Opposes Recognition Of Rebel TMC MPs

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla not to recognise a group of dissident MPs seeking to function as a separate faction within the party, arguing that only the political party, and not its legislature wing, holds constitutional primacy.In a letter to the Speaker, TMC national general secretary and parliamentary party leader Abhishek Banerjee asserted that the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) is “a single, indivisible political party” and requested that it be treated as the sole recognised entity in the Lok Sabha through its authorised leadership and whip.“Treat the TMC as a single party represented by its authorised whip and leader. Don’t recognise any separate group,” Abhishek Banerjee writes to the speaker. Both Sagarika Ghose and Kirti Azad have reached Speaker Om Birla’s residence to submit this letter pic.twitter.com/rJrEE552lc— Vasudha Venugopal (@Vasudha156) June 14, 2026 The communication comes in response to a move by a rebel group of MPs, reportedly led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who had earlier approached the Speaker seeking recognition as a distinct faction supporting the NDA.Citing Supreme Court observations and provisions of the anti-defection law, Abhishek Banerjee contended that the legal framework does not recognise internal splits as independent political entities. Instead, he argued, disputes involving rival claims must be assessed to identify the legitimate political party rather than confer separate status on breakaway groups.Rebel TMC MPs Arrive At LS Speaker Om Birla's Residence To Demand 'Separate Sitting Arrangement' In Parliament Meanwhile, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar claimed that support for the rebel camp had grown from 20 to 22 MPs and indicated that additional dissatisfied members could join. She also said the Speaker was expected to meet the dissident lawmakers shortly.The latest exchange underscores deepening divisions within the Trinamool Congress, with competing camps now seeking to strengthen their positions through constitutional and parliamentary mechanisms amid an escalating internal power struggle.

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Rebel TMC MPs Arrive At LS Speaker Om Birla's Residence To Demand 'Separate Sitting Arrangement' In Parliament

New Delhi: Rebel Trinamool Congress MPs Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Satabdi Roy, and others on Sunday arrived at the residence of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in the national capital to demand a separate sitting arrangement in the House amid the ongoing rift within the partyEarlier in the day, some rebel TMC MPs reached the house of Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.Rebel TMC MPs Saayoni Ghosh, Mala Roy, Satabdi Roy, Arup Chakraborty, and Kakoli Ghosh met with Union Minister Bhupender Yadav in the national capital.Similarly, consultations also took place in Kolkata with TMC leaders Gautam Deb and Chandrima Bhattacharya reaching the residence of TMC chief Mamata Banerjee.Rebel TMC MPs met Union Minister and BJP leader Bhupender Yadav at his residence, in Delhi today. (Source: TMC rebel MP) pic.twitter.com/jynO6HJ0XO— ANI (@ANI) June 14, 2026 CCTV Captures Final Moments Before Fatal IAF AN-32 Crash At Jorhat Air Base Suspended TMC leader Riju Dutta said the number of MPs in their camp could go up to 22. He said they will support the BJP-led NDA."The rebel MPs are heading to Delhi today. Kakoli Ghosh spoke in the morning, and two more MPs will likely join them, taking the number from 20 to 22. On Monday, all rebel MPs will meet the Speaker, and in the Assembly, they may propose having a separate Leader of Opposition. I have spoken to some of them personally, they said they will support the NDA," he said.Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose hit out at the rebels and said there is no legal provision under the anti-defection law for a "separate group" to function inside the House while continuing to hold seats won on a party's symbol.In a post on X, Ghose said an MP or MLA can avoid disqualification only in the case of a formal merger between political parties, and even then, only under specific conditions.Indian Embassy In Muscat Says Nishanth Uirthanathan’s Body To Be Repatriated Soon After Death Aboard MT Celestial "An MP or MLA will lose their seat or be disqualified under the anti-defection law unless their original political party merges with another party; and they either: Join the new/merged party, or Refuse to join the original merger. No legal provision of a 'separate group' inside Parliament or inside the assembly while sitting on an MP/ MLA seat previously won on the original party's name and symbol. The Law is clear. No 'separate group' inside the House on the same symbol is legal. Merge with a new party or be disqualified," she said."Else your membership of the House - parliament or assembly - is illegal," she added.The remarks come amidst the ongoing political crisis within the Trinamool Congress, where 58 MLAs under the leadership of expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee in West Bengal, and 20 MPs led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar in the Lok Sabha have rebelled against the party.Three Rajya Sabha MPs, including Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Baraik, have also resigned from their upper house and party membership. (Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

15 hours ago