Archive · 20 Jul 2026
Trinamool Congress Faces Seating Shift in Lok Sabha
The Trinamool Congress, a major political party in India, has faced a significant internal split.
Twenty of its MPs decided to leave and join the National Citizens Party of India (NCPI), which now has more members.
Because of this, the seating arrangement in the Lok Sabha (India's lower house of Parliament) has changed.
The Trinamool Congress leader, Abhishek Banerjee, now has to sit behind a former colleague who is now with the NCPI.
This change is allowed by the rules, but the Trinamool Congress is challenging it.
The NCPI, which had never won any seats before, now has 20 MPs and is a key ally of the ruling party, the NDA.
This shift strengthens the NDA's position in Parliament.
Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee moved to a less prominent seat in Lok Sabha behind former colleague Sudip Bandopadhyay.
The shift follows a split in the Trinamool Congress, with 20 MPs merging with the NCPI, which now has 20 members.
The merger was approved by the Lok Sabha Speaker under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.
The Trinamool Congress won 29 seats in the 2024 general elections but now has only 8 MPs in Lok Sabha.
The NCPI, previously unrepresented, has become a key ally of the ruling NDA, strengthening their dominance in Parliament.
- Who
- Trinamool Congress and National Citizens Party of India (NCPI)
- What
- Seating arrangement change in Lok Sabha due to a party split and merger
- When
- During the Monsoon Session of Parliament, specifically on the first day
- Where
- Lok Sabha, New Delhi
- Why
- Due to a split in the Trinamool Congress and the subsequent merger of rebel MPs with the NCPI, leading to a change in numerical strength and seating arrangements
Trinamool Congress
National Citizens Party of India (NCPI)
Party Representation
Trinamool Congress
Trinamool Congress argues that their historical significance and past performance in elections should grant them a more prominent position in the Lok Sabha.
National Citizens Party of India (NCPI)
NCPI, now with 20 members, claims their current numerical strength justifies their precedence in seating arrangements.
Legitimacy of the Split
Trinamool Congress
Trinamool Congress contends that the split was orchestrated and lacks moral legitimacy, challenging the procedural validity of the merger.
National Citizens Party of India (NCPI)
NCPI asserts that the merger adheres to the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, ensuring legal and procedural legitimacy.
- Trinamool Congress Seats in 2024
- 8
- NCPI Seats in 2024
- 20
- Trinamool Congress Seats in 2014
- 34
- Trinamool Congress Seats in 2009
- 19
- Rebel MPs
- 20
- Anti-Defection Law
- 52nd Amendment
- Lok Sabha Speaker's Role
- Recognizes Parliamentary groups and seating arrangements