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Rebel Trinamool MPs Seek Three More Weeks to Reply to Disqualification Notices
Twenty Lok Sabha MPs who left the Trinamool Congress and joined the NCPI have asked the Speaker for additional time to respond to disqualification notices. The requests come after the Supreme Court intervened in the matter, with the next hearing set for September 18.
By Tertius News AI Desk2 distinct · 2 mastheads · 2 articlesVersion 1Coverage Published
Twenty Lok Sabha MPs who left the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and aligned with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) have asked the Lok Sabha Speaker for three more weeks to reply to notices seeking their disqualification under the anti-defection law. Senior leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay confirmed the request on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
The MPs wrote separate letters to the Speaker's office after the Lok Sabha Secretariat issued notices on August 26, giving them seven days to respond. The notices were linked to a petition filed by TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, who is seeking the disqualification of the 20 MPs for defection.
Abhishek Banerjee had filed 20 separate petitions on June 18 under Rule 6 of the Members of Lok Sabha (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1985. The MPs had earlier rebelled against the TMC and merged with the NCPI, which has not yet been recognised as a separate parliamentary party by the Speaker's office.
The request for more time comes as the Supreme Court has also taken up the matter. On August 25, a Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued notice to the 20 MPs on Abhishek Banerjee's plea seeking an expeditious decision by the Speaker. The next hearing is scheduled for September 18.
Bandyopadhyay, who serves as the NCPI's Lok Sabha floor leader, told PTI that the MPs had received the Secretariat's letter on August 26 and had written back seeking three weeks to prepare their response. Another NCPI MP said the lawmakers were consulting lawyers before finalising their reply.
The development adds to the ongoing political confrontation between the TMC leadership and the dissident camp, which has also seen organisational changes. In the West Bengal Assembly, 65 of the TMC's 80 MLAs backed Ritabrata Banerjee's claim to the post of Leader of the Opposition, while the rebels elected senior MLA Arup Roy as chairperson and announced a parallel national leadership structure.
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Framing: Reports that rebel Trinamool Congress MPs wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to request more time to reply to a notice, emphasizing their proactive step.
Facts Included:
20 rebel Trinamool Congress MPs merged with NCPI
MPs wrote separate letters to the Lok Sabha Speaker's office seeking more time to submit replies
On August 25, the Lok Sabha Speaker issued notices to them in connection with the disqualification petition filed by Trinamool leader Abhishek Banerjee, seeking replies within a week
MPs have sought three weeks' time, till September 22
Abhishek Banerjee filed 20 separate petitions on June 18 seeking disqualification under Rule 6 of the Members of Lok Sabha (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1985
The Supreme Court also issued notice to these MPs on August 25, with next hearing on September 18
MPs had rebelled against Trinamool and subsequently merged with NCPI, demanding recognition as a separate political entity
The Speaker's office has not yet recognised them as a parliamentary party
Framing: The headline emphasizes the rebel MPs' request for an extension to respond to the disqualification notice
Facts Included:
Twenty Lok Sabha MPs who quit the TMC and aligned themselves with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) sought three weeks to respond to disqualification notices
The Lok Sabha Secretariat issued notices to the 20 rebel TMC MPs on August 26, seeking replies within seven days
Petitions were filed by TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee seeking disqualification
Sudip Bandyopadhyay, the NCPI's Lok Sabha floor leader, confirmed the request for three weeks
The Supreme Court agreed on August 25 to hear Abhishek Banerjee's plea seeking expeditious decision by the Speaker
A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued notice to the 20 MPs
The Speaker's notices asked the MPs to submit responses within seven days
65 of the TMC's 80 MLAs backed Ritabrata Banerjee's claim to the post of Leader of the Opposition
The rebels elected Arup Roy as chairperson and announced a parallel national leadership structure
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Claim
Confidence
Status
Claim20 rebel Trinamool Congress MPs who merged with NCPI have sought three weeks' time, till September 22, to respond to disqualification notices issued by the Lok Sabha Speaker.
ClaimThe Lok Sabha Speaker issued notices to the 20 rebel Trinamool Congress MPs on August 25, 2026, seeking their replies within a week in connection with disqualification petitions filed by Trinamool leader Abhishek Banerjee.
ClaimAbhishek Banerjee filed 20 separate petitions on June 18 seeking disqualification of the 20 rebel Trinamool Congress MPs under Rule 6 of the Members of Lok Sabha (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1985.
ClaimThe Supreme Court agreed on August 25 to hear Abhishek Banerjee's plea seeking an expeditious decision by the Lok Sabha Speaker on petitions seeking disqualification of the rebel MPs.