New Delhi : Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra has publicly criticised a group of rebel party lawmakers for requesting additional time to respond to formal disqualification notices issued by the Lok Sabha secretariat. The notices, which were sent out last week, stem from a series of petitions filed by the TMC leadership regarding MPs who allegedly switched their political allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Moitra argued that the failure of these MPs to meet the initial seven-day deadline is a clear indication of their culpability. She suggested that the request for a two-to-three-week extension is an attempt to stall the process, asserting that if the MPs were confident in their position, they would have been able to provide a response within the timeframe originally stipulated by the secretariat.
Disqualification Petitions and Legal Context
The controversy centres on 20 disqualification petitions submitted by the TMC, which allege that the MPs in question were elected on party tickets but subsequently aligned themselves with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The TMC leadership, spearheaded by national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, has been pushing for swift action under the anti-defection law to address these shifts in political loyalty.
The process gained momentum last month when the Supreme Court agreed to hear a plea from Banerjee, which sought an urgent decision from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla regarding the pending petitions. Following this judicial development, the Lok Sabha secretariat issued the notices to the rebel MPs. TMC leader Sudip Bandhopadhyay confirmed that the dissidents have now formally requested an additional three weeks to prepare their responses.
Internal Party Tensions and Next Steps
The ongoing dispute is a significant chapter in the internal friction that has gripped the Trinamool Congress following the party’s performance in the West Bengal assembly elections earlier this year. The dissident faction has openly challenged the authority of the party leadership, currently headed by Mamata Banerjee, leading to a broader political confrontation within the organisation.
Reports indicate that the rebel MPs are currently consulting with legal counsel to formulate their replies. This move to seek more time is expected to prolong the legal and parliamentary battle over their status as members of the House. As the situation stands, the Lok Sabha secretariat is yet to confirm how it will handle the request for an extension, leaving the timeline for the disqualification proceedings uncertain.
