Abhishek Banerjee Urges Speaker to Disqualify 20 Rebel MPs

Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on July 27, 2026, demanding the urgent disposal of disqualification petitions against 20 rebel MPs. The petitions, filed on June 19, 2026, allege the lawmakers defected by aligning with the National Citizens' Party of India, which Banerjee described as an unrecognized political formation.

Banerjee argued that the five-week delay in issuing notices or scheduling hearings undermines the anti-defection law under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution. He cited increased urgency after Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju invited the rebel MPs as a separate group to an all-party meeting on July 19. While Speaker Om Birla has not formally recognized the party switch, he has approved separate seating for these MPs in the House.

On July 28, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari traveled to New Delhi to meet the 20 rebel MPs at Banga Bhavan. The group, which now claims an alliance with the National Democratic Alliance, planned to discuss parliamentary coordination for the Monsoon Session, West Bengal-related issues, and the utilization of local area development funds.