abhishek-meets-ls-speaker-seeks-disqualification-of-rebel-mps

Abhishek Banerjee, General Secretary of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and MP, met Om Birla in the national capital on Friday, demanding the immediate disqualification of 20 rebel MPs who recently left the party. During the meeting, Banerjee submitted 20 separate anti-defection petitions to the Speaker, seeking cancellation of the membership of each of the defecting MPs under the provisions of the Constitution. The move signals the party’s decision to pursue the matter through legal and constitutional channels.

 

Banerjee was accompanied by senior party leaders, including Saugata Roy, Kalyan Banerjee, and Derek O'Brien. After the meeting, Banerjee said that the law clearly mandates disqualification for elected representatives who switch parties after winning on a particular party’s symbol.

 

“It is clearly stated in the Constitution that if a representative contests and wins on a party’s symbol but later joins another political party, their membership stands to be cancelled,” Banerjee said. He argued that the 20 MPs, elected on the TMC symbol, must resign or face disqualification.

 

The development comes amid a deepening crisis within the TMC following the defection of 20 MPs to the NCPI party. The rebel MPs have already approached the Speaker, claiming recognition as a separate bloc, and speculation is rife that they may seek rights over the party symbol citing support of a significant portion of the parliamentary party.

 

Rejecting such claims, Banerjee clarified that even if two-thirds of MPs defect, they cannot stake claim to the party symbol and would still fall under provisions of the anti-defection law. He also noted that Supreme Court judgments on the matter have been submitted to support the party’s case.

 

“You cannot be a member of two parties at the same time. Those who have joined another party after winning on our symbol must step down,” he stated.

 

Launching a sharp attack on the defectors, Banerjee accused them of betraying the mandate of the people and disrespecting the Constitution. He warned that voters in West Bengal would hold them accountable in future elections if they contest on tickets of rival parties.

 

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