India Supreme Court Orders West Bengal Speaker on MLA Disqualifications

The Supreme Court of India urged the Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly to resolve disqualification petitions against 10 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) lawmakers by early October. The petitions were filed on July 8, 2026, by MLA Sohandeb Chattopadhyay on behalf of the faction led by Mamata Banerjee. The filings allege that a group led by Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee defected from the party.

Citing the precedent in Keisham Meghachandra Singh v The Hon'ble Speaker Manipur Legislative Assembly, the Court noted that disqualification petitions are expected to be decided within a reasonable period, typically three months. While the Court indicated the deadline expires on October 8, 2026, some reports cite October 10 as the date.

This legal dispute follows a broader split within the TMC after its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections. The internal conflict involves ongoing disputes over party leadership, the party name, and official election symbols.