Rebel TMC MPs seek more time to answer Lok Sabha disqualification notices

Twenty rebel Trinamool Congress MPs are seeking another two-week extension to respond to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's disqualification notices, after a key meeting of the group in Kolkata was skipped by half its members.

Thursday marked the deadline for the MPs to explain why they should not be disqualified under the anti-defection law for breaking away from the TMC to align with the NCPI. Instead of submitting their replies, the group decided to ask for more time.

If granted, this will be the fourth extension the rebel MPs have sought since the dispute began. They initially asked for four weeks in September, but the Speaker's office granted them only two.

Internal strains show at Kolkata meeting

The legal battle coincides with signs of unease within the rebel faction. A meeting convened by senior parliamentarian Sudip Bandyopadhyay at a Kolkata hotel on Thursday to discuss their strategy saw only 10 of the 20 MPs show up.

Those present quickly downplayed the poor attendance, framing the gathering as an informal pre-Durga Puja lunch featuring pulao, chicken, and mutton dishes.

Bankura MP Arup Chakrabarty said those who did not attend had valid reasons, including travel and family commitments. "Someone has gone to America, someone's son is unwell, someone has another meeting," he said, adding that the absent members had been contacted by phone.

Other attendees were equally dismissive of any internal division. Sharmila Sarkar said there was "no question of any misunderstanding," while Satabdi Roy said the group already knew who would be absent. "We are not keeping track of who is coming or who is going, as it holds no importance," Roy said.

The absent MPs include prominent names such as Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Sayani Ghosh, Yusuf Pathan, Mala Roy, June Maliah, Partha Bhowmick, Mitali Bag, Kalipada Soren, Dev, and Asit Mal.

High stakes and the threat of by-elections

Despite the festive menu, the stakes for the group remain high. The disqualification petitions, filed individually against each of the 20 MPs, follow a Supreme Court push by the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC camp. The notices require the MPs to justify their shift to the NCPI.

The mainstream TMC leadership is confident the rebels will not last. Kalyan Banerjee, a senior TMC MP, has predicted that all 20 rebel parliamentarians will face disqualification within a year, triggering by-elections across West Bengal.

For now, the rebels are focused on delaying that outcome. Rebel MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar had earlier told PTI that the group decided to ask for another fortnight to file their formal replies, a move that could drag out the process further.