The 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs who rebelled after the West Bengal Assembly elections have received a major setback from the Lok Sabha Secretariat. The Secretariat has issued notices to all 20 rebel TMC MPs, demanding their responses to the disqualification petitions filed by Abhishek Banerjee. All rebel MPs are required to file their responses within seven days.
These rebel TMC MPs are accused of leaving their original party and joining the NCP. The TMC has acknowledged that this constitutes voluntary resignation and is grounds for disqualification under the anti-defection law. However, the rebel MPs are claiming their action is legitimate. Consequently, the entire matter is now pending before the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has stated that the real issue is not the issuance of a notice, but rather the completion of proceedings within the stipulated timeframe.
According to reports, notices were issued to all 20 rebel TMC MPs on August 25th. A copy of the petition filed by Abhishek Banerjee on August 18th has also been sent to the MPs along with this notice. The petition was filed by TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee under Rule 6 of the Disqualification of Lok Sabha Members on Grounds of Defection Rules, 1985. The Secretariat also stated that all members should file their replies within seven days of receiving the notice.
It is noteworthy that the notice has been issued at a time when the Supreme Court recently agreed to hear a petition filed by TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee seeking an expeditious decision on disqualification petitions based on defection. A bench comprising CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana granted the hearing.
The TMC suffered a crushing defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections. Following this, a rebellion erupted within the TMC parliamentary party. Twenty TMC MPs rebelled and merged with the NCPI. After this, these MPs decided to support NDA at the Centre.