Rebel TMC MPs seek more time as Speaker notice deadline ends

Twenty rebel TMC MPs aligned with the NCPI met in Kolkata on Thursday to discuss their next legal and political steps as a disqualification petition against them remains pending before Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The meeting came on the day the two-week deadline set by the Speaker for them to respond to the notices ended, with the MPs deciding to seek another two weeks to file their replies.

Only 10 of the 20 MPs attended the meeting, which was convened by senior parliamentarian Sudip Bandyopadhyay at a hotel. Those present played down the absence of the others, saying some were abroad, some had family commitments and others had prior engagements. The gathering was projected as a pre-Durga Puja get-together, but it also took place at a politically sensitive moment for the group.

Those who did not attend were Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Sayani Ghosh, Yusuf Pathan, Mala Roy, June Maliah, Partha Bhowmick, Mitali Bag, Kalipada Soren, Dev and Asit Mal. Apart from Bandyopadhyay, those present were Abu Taher, Khalilur Rahman, Sharmila Sarkar, Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, Satabdi Roy, Prasun Banerjee, Bapi Halder, Rachana Banerjee and Arup Chakrabarty.

Asked about the absentees, Bankura MP Arup Chakrabarty said, "Someone has gone to America, someone's son is unwell, someone has another meeting." He said the absent MPs had been contacted over the phone. Sharmila Sarkar dismissed talk of any internal problem, saying, "There is no question of any misunderstanding with those who could not come." Satabdi Roy also rejected speculation, saying, "Look, we are not keeping track of who is coming or who is going, as it holds no importance." She added that the group already knew the 10 MPs would not attend because some were away and others had scheduled engagements, including Disha meetings.

Rachana Banerjee described the gathering as a reunion before Puja rather than a formal political meeting. "We just met today because Puja is coming up, and it was very important to have a get-together," she said. She said the MPs usually meet in Parliament when they are all together, but after returning to Bengal they get occupied with work in their constituencies. The meeting also had a festive spread, with chicken and mutton dishes, pulao and desserts served ahead of Durga Puja.

Behind the social setting, however, the legal battle remained central. The notices issued to the MPs ask why they left the TMC and aligned with the NCPI, and why action should not be taken against them under the anti-defection law. Ghosh Dastidar had earlier told PTI that the MPs had decided to seek another two weeks to submit their replies. This would be the fourth extension sought by the 20 MPs. They had first asked for four weeks in September, but the Speaker's office granted them two weeks instead.

The disqualification petition was filed before the Speaker, with separate complaints against each of the 20 MPs. The Mamata Banerjee camp of the TMC has also approached the Supreme Court in the matter, following which the Speaker's office issued notices to the MPs seeking their response. Senior TMC leader and MP Kalyan Banerjee has said the 20 rebel parliamentarians would face disqualification within a year and that bypolls would then be held in all 20 constituencies.

For now, the rebel MPs appear set to continue seeking more time. Thursday's meeting brought together a pre-Puja lunch and discussions on a legal fight that could decide the parliamentary future of 20 MPs and potentially lead to bypolls across Bengal.

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