Supreme Court Directs TMC Disqualification Case to Calcutta High Court

The Supreme Court of India disposed of a petition filed by Trinamool Congress MLA Sohandeb Chattopadhyay regarding the disqualification of 10 rebel legislators in West Bengal. The court directed Chattopadhyay to approach the Calcutta High Court for an expeditious decision on the matter, stating, "It seems to us that the appropriate recourse at this stage would be to approach the Calcutta High Court."

The legal dispute centers on a rebel group led by West Bengal Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, who allegedly defected after contesting the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections on TMC tickets. Chattopadhyay sought the highest court's intervention after the West Bengal Assembly Speaker failed to rule on the disqualification petitions by an October 8 deadline previously suggested by the court.

To ensure a timely resolution, the Supreme Court requested the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to assign the case to a Division Bench for fast-tracked disposal. The conflict follows a split in the TMC after the Bharatiya Janata Party won a majority in the 2026 elections, with the Banerjee-led faction claiming to represent the legitimate party with the support of 58 MLAs.