Abhishek moves to block rebel TMC MPs

Ahead of a planned meeting between rebel MPs and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Trinamool Congress parliamentary leader Abhishek Banerjee wrote to the Speaker, requesting that no recognition, status, or facility be granted to any group claiming to be a separate faction.

Party’s Lok Sabha MP Kirti Azad and Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghosh delivered the letter from Banerjee to the Lok Sabha Speaker.

The letter, dated June 10, makes three main points to stop any claim of a separate group in the House. First, it states that the All India Trinamool Congress is a single, united political party.

Second, it emphasises that the Lok Sabha legislative party exists only because of the political party and does not have its own independent status.

Third, it says that no group of members can form a separate faction on their own. This action comes as some TMC MPs have expressed concerns about candidate selection and organisational control before 2026. By submitting the letter to the Speaker, the party leadership seeks to prevent any future petition under the anti-defection law that cites a split.

Following its defeat in the West Bengal assembly election, the Mamata Banerjee-led party is experiencing significant dissent among its lawmakers. The dissident group claims support from 22 MPs and plans to meet the Speaker on Monday to seek recognition as a separate parliamentary bloc.

In his letter, party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee asked that the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) be formally recognised as a single political party in the House, represented only by its authorised leader and whip. He also requested that the party be allowed to present its case before any decision is made regarding communications from dissident MPs.

“Treat the AITC as a single political party represented in the House solely through its duly authorised Leader and Whip, and decline to accord any recognition, status, or facility to any purported separate group or faction of the AITC,” Banerjee said in his letter.

“Afford the AITC an opportunity of being heard before any decision is taken on any communication of the nature referred to above, should the same be received,” he said.

Banerjee also contended that any merger claim must meet two legal requirements: a merger of the political party and support from two-thirds of its legislators. Meeting only one condition is insufficient under the law. It requires the backing of a majority of the party’s parliamentary strength.

Banerjee stated that the Trinamool Congress reserves the right to initiate proceedings under the anti-defection law for any actions that violate the Tenth Schedule.

Speaking to reporters at Kolkata airport before departing for New Delhi, rebel MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said two more Lok Sabha members were expected to join the faction, increasing its strength to 22. “We are meeting the Speaker tomorrow and will seek recognition as a separate parliamentary bloc,” she said.

The battle for control of the TMC is unfolding in both Parliament and the West Bengal Assembly. Last week, 64 of the party’s 80 MLAs broke away and secured recognition as a separate legislative formation from Speaker Rathindra Bose, with Ritabrata Banerjee recognised as the Leader of Opposition. The Mamata Banerjee-led faction has challenged that decision before the Calcutta High Court.