1 hr ago
Several Rebel Trinamool MPs Skip Sudip Bandyopadhyay's Legal Strategy Lunch
A group of 20 MPs who have left the Trinamool Congress met in Kolkata on Thursday.
Their group calls itself the NDA-aligned NCPI.
Sudip Bandyopadhyay invited them to discuss a legal challenge over whether they should lose their seats under the anti-defection law.
Ten MPs did not attend, including some well-known members.
One MP said people had personal or travel-related reasons for missing the lunch.
Another said there was no problem among the MPs.
The group was facing a deadline to explain its position to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
It decided to ask for two more weeks to reply.
Sudip Bandyopadhyay convened a lunch meeting in south Kolkata on Thursday for members of the breakaway camp calling itself the NDA-aligned NCPI.
Ten of the 20 MPs reportedly missed the meeting, including Dev Adhikari and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar.
The meeting was intended to coordinate the faction’s legal response before a deadline set by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
The MPs decided to ask for another two weeks to respond to the anti-defection proceedings.
Arup Chakraborty cited personal and logistical reasons for absences, while Sharmila Sarkar said there was “no problem whatsoever.”
- Who
- Sudip Bandyopadhyay and members of the 20-MP breakaway camp calling itself the NDA-aligned NCPI; ten MPs reportedly did not attend.
- What
- A lunch meeting was held to discuss the group’s legal response in an anti-defection case.
- Where
- A hotel on AJC Bose Road in south Kolkata.
- When
- Thursday; the group decided to seek a further two-week extension.
- Why
- The MPs were preparing to respond to proceedings seeking their disqualification under the anti-defection law.
Key facts
- Breakaway camp size
- 20 MPs
- Reported absences
- 10 MPs
- Meeting convenor
- Sudip Bandyopadhyay
- Deadline authority
- Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla
- Extension sought
- A further two weeks
- Reported meeting location
- A south Kolkata hotel on AJC Bose Road
- Disqualification petitions
- Filed before the Speaker by Abhishek Banerjee; a related writ petition was taken to the Supreme Court.
Quotes
Arup Chakraborty
Bankura Trinamool Congress MP
“Someone went to the US, someone’s son is unwell... another one had another meeting”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
Related news
Rebel NCPI MPs Seek Four More Weeks Against Defection Notices
Rebel TMC MPs Seek Two More Weeks on Disqualification Notices
Rebel TMC MP’s BJP Switch Claim Rejected by Rebels, BJP
TMC Challenges Speaker as NCPI MPs Prepare for BJP Switch
Rebel TMC Leader Claims 17 MPs Will Join BJP Soon
NCPI Unveils Committee, Gives Rebel TMC MPs Key Posts
Sawant Highlights Successive Governments’ Contributions to Goa Legislature
Abhishek Banerjee Challenges Parliamentary Committee Chair Appointment, Seeks Withdrawal
TMC Loses Two Panel Posts in Parliamentary Committee Reshuffle