Amid growing turmoil within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Lok Sabha Secretariat has sought a response from the party’s national general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP, Abhishek Banerjee, regarding a petition submitted by a group of rebel TMC MPs seeking recognition of a separate bloc and merger with another political party.
According to reports, the Secretariat emailed Banerjee on June 16, asking him to submit a response within a stipulated time frame. The communication reportedly required a reply by 4 pm on the same day.
The development assumes significance as it came while Banerjee was being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the alleged signature scam case.
The Trinamool Congress has objected to the timing of the Lok Sabha Secretariat’s communication, claiming that Banerjee was under interrogation by the ED and therefore had no access to his email.
According to party leaders, Banerjee remained at the ED office in Kolkata until late at night as investigators continued questioning him in the case.
Senior TMC leader and MP Kirti Azad reportedly informed Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla that Banerjee was unavailable during the period specified for the response. He stated that Banerjee would be informed about the communication once the questioning concluded.
The party has questioned the timing of the notice, arguing that it coincided with a crucial phase of the ED investigation.
The Lok Sabha Secretariat’s communication follows a petition submitted by a group of rebel Trinamool MPs seeking recognition of a separate parliamentary group and merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India.
Sources cited in media reports indicated that the Secretariat has taken cognisance of the petition and begun the process of examining the request.
The rebels are reportedly seeking formal recognition that would allow them to function independently of the Trinamool Congress in Parliament.
According to reports, the parliamentary process relating to the merger request could move forward within a week, subject to procedural requirements and responses from all stakeholders.
Growing Crisis Within Trinamool Congress
The latest development comes against the backdrop of an escalating internal crisis within the Trinamool Congress.
The party, which has faced significant political setbacks in recent months, has been grappling with growing factionalism and dissent among its elected representatives.
Several MPs have openly expressed dissatisfaction with the party’s current leadership structure and functioning. The dissident group is reportedly exploring options to establish a separate political identity while avoiding disqualification under the anti-defection provisions.
Among the MPs associated with the rebel camp are Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Satabdi Roy, Saayoni Ghosh and Yusuf Pathan, according to reports.
The rebellion is being viewed as one of the most serious internal challenges faced by the Mamata Banerjee-led party in recent years.
The rebel MPs have reportedly directed much of their criticism towards Abhishek Banerjee, accusing him of centralising decision-making within the party.
Some dissidents have alleged that key organisational decisions were increasingly influenced by a select group of advisers and political strategists associated with the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), leading to dissatisfaction among senior leaders and elected representatives.
The allegations have further deepened the divide within the party and intensified speculation about its future political direction.
The unfolding political developments have once again brought attention to India’s anti-defection law, which is contained in the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.
Introduced through the 52nd Constitutional Amendment in 1985, the law was designed to prevent elected representatives from switching political loyalties for personal or political gain.
Any attempt by rebel MPs to form a separate group or seek merger with another political party will likely be examined within the framework of these constitutional provisions.
As the Lok Sabha Secretariat processes the petition and awaits Abhishek Banerjee’s response, the developments are expected to have significant implications for the future of the Trinamool Congress and the balance of political forces in West Bengal.
