Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee has submitted 20 petitions to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking the disqualification of 20 rebel MPs who reportedly joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India. Banerjee cited the 10th Schedule of the Constitution, stating that voluntarily leaving a party leads to disqualification.
Six Lok Sabha MPs from Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) did not attend a party meeting in Delhi, indicating a near-complete crossover to the Eknath Shinde-led faction. The MPs cited fear of merger with Congress and ideological deviation as reasons for forming a separate group. Action is threatened against the absent MPs.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut warned of action against MPs missing a parliamentary meeting, as a whip was issued. Eknath Shinde's faction reportedly moved five of six defecting MPs out of Delhi to prevent attendance. Only three Lok Sabha MPs from UBT attended the meeting.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut defended his controversial remarks against suspected rebel MPs, stating they are common Marathi usage and not abusive in Maharashtra's cultural context. He questioned criticism, arguing wrongdoing should be punished, and vowed to resist attempts to weaken the party.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury alleged that Bangladeshi political parties are infiltrating India, citing the merger of a breakaway Trinamool Congress faction with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). He drew parallels to the BJP's stance on illegal immigration from Bangladesh.
Abhishek Banerjee urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to recognize the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) as a single party, rejecting any separate factions. Rebel MPs met the Speaker seeking recognition, but Banerjee's letter, citing constitutional provisions and Supreme Court judgments, argued against forming separate groups within a party.
Kapil Sibal criticizes TMC rebel MPs for merging with NCP, calling it "theatre of the absurd" and illegal. Rebel MPs claim majority support and seek separate seating, intending to support NDA.
Kapil Sibal criticizes TMC rebel MPs for planning to merge with NCP, calling it illegal and "theatre of the absurd." Rebel MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar claims over two-thirds support the move and will support NDA.
Rebel Trinamool Congress MPs announced their merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party and met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking separate seating. They claim two-thirds support and will contest the party's electoral symbol, setting up a significant challenge to Mamata Banerjee's leadership.
TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee softened his stance on party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, calling him "like my son" after previously labeling him "arrogant." This comes amid an internal party crisis following electoral defeat and a rebellion by a faction of MPs and MLAs.
