Speaker Seeks Input from Both TMC Camps Before Verdict, Notice Sent to Mamata Faction: Sources

New Delhi, June 16: The process to determine whether the breakaway group of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs will receive formal recognition in the Lok Sabha has entered a consultative phase, with Speaker Om Birla set to hear representations from both the defected lawmakers and the original party leadership.

According to sources in Parliament, the Speaker’s office has already sent an official communication, including an email, to the faction led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, seeking its formal response on the matter. The move comes after a group of TMC MPs approached the Speaker seeking recognition as a separate parliamentary group following their proposed merger with the relatively lesser-known Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI).

Officials indicated that the Speaker is likely to examine the matter in detail before taking any final decision, particularly given its implications under the anti-defection framework and parliamentary practice.

Legal Scrutiny Likely in Merger Claim

Sources further said that the Speaker may seek formal legal opinion from the Union Law Ministry before arriving at a conclusion. The advice is expected to be taken in consultation with senior law officers to ensure that any decision is legally sustainable and capable of withstanding judicial scrutiny if challenged in court.

The matter is expected to be resolved before the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, which is likely to begin in the third week of July. Parliamentary authorities are treating the issue as procedurally sensitive, given that it involves questions of party affiliation, merger validity, and recognition within the House.

Dispute Over Breakaway Group Status

The controversy stems from a recent development in which a section of TMC MPs declared their intention to align with NCPI and sought recognition as a separate group in the Lok Sabha. During their meeting with the Speaker, the MPs reportedly requested a distinct seating arrangement in the Lower House and submitted a representation claiming majority support within their faction.

One of the MPs, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, was quoted as saying that a significant number of TMC MPs had signed the letter submitted to the Speaker and that the group intended to function independently while extending support to the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Constitutional Questions Raised

Legal experts have raised questions over the validity of the proposed arrangement, pointing to provisions under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which governs anti-defection rules. Former parliamentary officials have noted that while political parties may merge under specific conditions, individual MPs cannot independently merge with another party in a manner that alters their original party status without procedural compliance.

Some constitutional observers have also highlighted that any merger involving elected representatives must adhere strictly to established legal and procedural norms to avoid future disputes.

Election Framework and Political Implications

Officials familiar with electoral processes have described the proposed alignment with NCPI as an unusual political development, noting that such arrangements are not explicitly covered under existing provisions of the anti-defection law or the Representation of the People Act.

The NCPI, registered in 2023 and based in West Bengal’s Howrah district, has limited national presence, making the proposed merger politically significant despite its relatively small organisational footprint.

Speaker’s Role Under Spotlight

With the matter now under review, the Speaker’s role has become central to determining whether the breakaway MPs can be formally recognised as a separate parliamentary group or whether they remain within the original party framework.

Parliament sources said that all submissions from both sides will be carefully examined before any ruling is issued. The final decision is expected to carry implications not only for the current composition of the TMC in Parliament but also for broader interpretations of anti-defection provisions in similar future cases.

As the Monsoon Session approaches, attention is now focused on whether the Speaker’s ruling will set a precedent for handling intra-party splits and contested mergers within India’s parliamentary system.