After rebel MPs, TMC plans ‘surgical strike’ on MLAs
The Trinamool Congress was planning a “surgical strike” on its rebel MLAs after the party’s 20 breakaway MPs were “neutralised,” sources in the Mamata Banerjee camp of the former Bengal ruling outfit said hours after the Lok Sabha secretariat issued a notice to the rebel TMC MPs to explain their stance on a disqualification petition filed against them in the Supreme Court by party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
“Some of them (MLAs) are in touch and could return anytime soon… for others the plans are being chalked out for a surgical strike… let only their big brothers in Parliament (read rebel MPs) be neutralised first — the process for which has already started… they are flying high… but they won’t,” a senior pro-Mamata Banerjee leader said.
The Lok Sabha secretariat earlier issued notices to the 20 rebel MPs — who had joined NCPI — asking them to submit their rejoinders within a week on the petition filed in the Supreme Court by Abhishek Banerjee seeking their disqualification under Rule 6 of the Members of Lok Sabha (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1985.
The notice from the Lok Sabha Secretariat dated August 25 forwarded Abhishek Banerjee’s petition before the Apex Court and sought the rebel MPs’ “comments” vis-à-vis disqualification rules. It read: “You are requested to kindly furnish your comments on the petition in terms of rule 7(3) of the same rule within seven days of the receipt of this letter for consideration of the Hon’ble Speaker, Lok Sabha.”
Senior TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, who had earlier moved the petition in the Apex Court, said, “Wait, many things will take place in a couple of months… there will be a lot of things that will change… the game has just started.”
Welcoming the new development, TMC Rajya Sabha Member Sagarika Ghosh too appealed to Speaker Om Birla to disqualify the rebel lawmakers, saying, “What has happened today is a breakthrough… it is significant and important that after two months the Speaker’s Office has finally acted under the 10th Schedule; they attract immediate disqualification.” According to the 10th Schedule, it was not the MPs but parties that could merge.
She earlier wrote, “The disqualification of 20 traitors for their brazen violation of the Constitution is imperative. It’s not just about one party. It’s about protecting the Constitution.”
The development is juxtaposed with a Supreme Court order to the 20 respondent MPs on Abhishek Banerjee’s plea. The Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana sought time-bound consideration of the disqualification pleas pending before the Speaker.
While the rebel MPs remain tight-lipped, one of them said they had their grounds ready and would submit them before the Speaker before time. “A law is interpreted in many ways… we are far beyond the requisite 2/3rd number that is required to break away… the rest will be said by our lawyer,” said one of the rebel MPs who has been a known Bengali actress.
