13 hrs ago
Twenty NCPI MPs Seek Extension in TMC Disqualification Case
Twenty members of Parliament who used to belong to the Trinamool Congress say they now belong to the NCPI.
Abhishek Banerjee has asked that they be disqualified under a rule against lawmakers changing parties.
The Lok Sabha Speaker’s office asked the MPs to explain their legal position.
They were given seven days to reply, and that deadline ends on Wednesday.
The MPs have asked for three more weeks.
They say they need more time to prepare their defense.
The Supreme Court has told the Speaker’s office not to delay the process.
A Trinamool Congress supporter says the extra time will not help the MPs legally.
Twenty Trinamool Congress MPs claiming membership in the NCPI asked Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for three more weeks to respond to a disqualification petition.
The MPs’ original seven-day deadline expires on Wednesday after notices were issued by the Lok Sabha secretariat.
The petition was filed by Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee under the anti-defection law after the MPs allegedly left the Trinamool Congress.
The Supreme Court directed the Speaker’s office to expedite the decision-making process without unnecessary delays.
The rebel MPs say they need time to prepare a strong legal defense, while a Trinamool Congress loyalist argues that extra time will not change the legal outcome.
- Who
- Twenty Trinamool Congress MPs claiming membership in the NCPI, Abhishek Banerjee, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla are central to the dispute.
- What
- The MPs requested a three-week extension to respond to Abhishek Banerjee’s petition seeking their disqualification under the anti-defection law.
- Where
- The request was submitted to the Lok Sabha secretariat, with the dispute being handled through Parliament and the courts.
- When
- The extension request was made on Tuesday; the MPs’ original seven-day reply period ends on Wednesday.
- Why
- The MPs say they need more time to prepare a detailed legal defense against alleged violations of the Tenth Schedule.
Rebel MPs’ Position
Trinamool Congress Loyalists’ Position
Need for more time
Rebel MPs’ Position
The 20 MPs say additional weeks are necessary to construct a watertight legal defense and make their replies comprehensive.
Trinamool Congress Loyalists’ Position
A Trinamool Congress loyalist says the MPs will not be able to establish a legally valid position regardless of how much time they receive.
Political and legal support
Rebel MPs’ Position
Sources in the rebel bloc say the MPs are consulting senior constitutional lawyers and receiving legal assistance from the ruling NDA ecosystem.
Trinamool Congress Loyalists’ Position
The Trinamool Congress side portrays the delay as an attempt to buy time amid pressure from the disqualification proceedings.
Possible consequences
Rebel MPs’ Position
The rebel bloc wants to avoid disqualification and the subsequent by-elections, which sources say neither the MPs nor the BJP currently wants.
Trinamool Congress Loyalists’ Position
The Trinamool Congress side maintains that the legal process should proceed despite the requested extension.
Key facts
- MPs seeking extension
- Twenty MPs claiming membership in the NCPI
- Extension requested
- Three additional weeks
- Original deadline
- The seven-day reply period ends Wednesday
- Petitioner
- Abhishek Banerjee, Diamond Harbour MP
- Responding authority
- Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla
- Court intervention
- The Supreme Court directed the Speaker’s office to expedite the process
- Relevant law
- The anti-defection provisions of the Tenth Schedule
Quotes
A source in the rebel bloc
An unnamed source supporting the 20 defecting MPs
“No matter how much time they get, they will not be able to do anything legally.”
telegraphindia.com
“More time is needed to make the replies bulletproof”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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