New Delhi: The Lok Sabha Secretariat has issued notices to 20 rebel Trinamool Congress MPs, asking them to respond within seven days to petitions seeking their disqualification under India’s anti-defection law.
The notices form part of proceedings before Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and follow petitions submitted by TMC general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee against the lawmakers, who broke away from the Mamata Banerjee-led party and aligned themselves with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI).
MPs Given Seven Days to Respond
The notices are dated August 25, 2026 and forward copies of the disqualification petitions filed against the rebel MPs.
According to the notice reported by Hindustan Times, the lawmakers have been asked to provide their comments within seven days of receiving the communication for consideration by the Lok Sabha Speaker.
The petitions are being considered under the Members of Lok Sabha (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1985, which lay down the procedure for deciding cases under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.
The notices represent an important procedural step, but they do not mean that the MPs have already been disqualified.
Why Is TMC Seeking Their Disqualification?
The political dispute began after a group of 20 TMC Lok Sabha MPs broke away from the party and associated themselves with the NCPI.
TMC argues that their actions amount to defection and therefore attract disqualification under the Tenth Schedule, commonly known as the anti-defection law.
Abhishek Banerjee submitted individual petitions against the lawmakers in June, seeking their removal from the Lok Sabha.
The rebel MPs, however, have sought recognition of their new political alignment, making the case a significant test of how the anti-defection provisions apply to the split.
Rebel MPs Still Officially Part of TMC
Despite their political association with the NCPI, the 20 lawmakers have not yet formally ceased to be TMC MPs in Lok Sabha records, according to the latest reporting.
The Lok Sabha Secretariat had provided them with a separate seating arrangement ahead of the Monsoon Session, but their request concerning recognition of their political grouping remains under consideration.
Until Speaker Om Birla reaches a decision on the petitions, their formal parliamentary status remains unresolved.
Supreme Court Also Steps Into Dispute
The latest Lok Sabha action comes amid proceedings before the Supreme Court of India.
Abhishek Banerjee approached the Supreme Court seeking an expeditious decision by Speaker Om Birla on the pending disqualification petitions.
On August 25, a Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant sought responses from the 20 rebel MPs.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Speaker and Lok Sabha Secretary General, informed the court that the parliamentary notices had already been issued.
The Supreme Court indicated that its concern extended beyond simply issuing notices and also involved whether the proceedings would be completed within a reasonable timeframe.
What Does the Anti-Defection Law Say?
The Tenth Schedule of the Constitution contains provisions under which legislators can be disqualified for defection from the political party on whose ticket they were elected.
Among other circumstances, disqualification questions can arise if a member voluntarily gives up membership of their political party or votes contrary to the party’s direction without applicable protection.
In the Lok Sabha, the Speaker decides petitions seeking disqualification under the Tenth Schedule, subject to judicial review.
The rebel MPs will therefore have an opportunity to present their position before any final decision is taken.
Major Political Stakes for Trinamool Congress
The dispute has major implications for the TMC’s parliamentary strength and for the balance between the Mamata Banerjee-led organisation and the breakaway group.
The rebellion followed a significant period of political turmoil within the party, eventually leading the MPs to associate themselves with the NCPI.
TMC has maintained that lawmakers elected on its symbol cannot simply move to another political formation while retaining their Lok Sabha membership.
The rebel group is expected to challenge that interpretation while defending its parliamentary position.
What Happens Next?
The immediate next step is for the 20 rebel MPs to submit their replies within seven days of receiving the notices.
Their responses will then be placed before Speaker Om Birla as the disqualification proceedings continue.
The Supreme Court proceedings will also remain important because Abhishek Banerjee has specifically sought a time-bound resolution of the dispute.
For now, no MP has been disqualified. The latest notices formally move the case forward and set the stage for arguments from both the TMC leadership and the rebel lawmakers before the Speaker reaches a decision.
Source – Hindustan Times / The Times of India
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