SC to Hear Abhishek Banerjee’s Plea on 20 Rebel TMC MPs’ Disqualification

The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a plea filed by Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee seeking an expeditious decision on disqualification petitions against 20 rebel TMC Lok Sabha MPs who have aligned themselves with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI).

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued notice to the 20 MPs. However, the court declined to issue notice to the Lok Sabha Speaker and the secretary-general, after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said he was appearing for them.

Banerjee has challenged the alleged delay in deciding the disqualification proceedings initiated against the MPs. He has sought directions to Speaker Om Birla to decide the petitions in accordance with the anti-defection provisions of the Constitution.

The TMC leader had earlier filed separate disqualification petitions against the MPs and subsequently requested that the proceedings be expedited. He reportedly met Birla on August 12 after sending a written reminder on July 27.

The dispute stems from a rebellion within the TMC parliamentary party, after the 20 MPs announced that they had joined or merged with the Tripura-based NCPI and sought separate recognition in Parliament. They have subsequently been treated as an NCPI group and participated in NDA parliamentary activities.

The TMC has argued that the MPs were elected on its symbol and that their decision to align with another political formation amounts to voluntarily giving up party membership, attracting disqualification under the anti-defection law.

The rebel MPs, however, maintain that their move represents a valid merger and does not warrant disqualification.

The development comes as the Supreme Court is also hearing a similar petition filed by Shiv Sena (UBT) challenging the Speaker’s approval of the merger of six of its MPs with the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.