20 Rebel TMC MPs Seek More Time From Speaker to Respond

20 Rebel TMC MPs Seek More Time

Twenty Lok Sabha MPs who broke away from the Trinamool Congress have again sought additional time to respond to petitions seeking their disqualification under the anti-defection law.

The MPs have requested another four weeks from the Lok Sabha Secretariat to prepare and submit their responses. Their earlier deadline expired on September 22, 2026. According to the MPs' side, additional time is required to gather and compile the documents needed for their replies. 

Disqualification Petitions Against the MPs

The disqualification proceedings were initiated after TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee filed separate petitions against the 20 MPs on June 18.

The petitions concern the MPs' decision to leave the TMC and align themselves with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). The TMC has argued that their actions attract the anti-defection provisions under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.

The rebel MPs, however, have maintained that their move constitutes a valid political merger. 

Speaker Had Earlier Extended the Deadline

The Lok Sabha Speaker's office had issued notices to the MPs in August, asking them to respond to the disqualification petitions.

After the MPs sought additional time, the deadline was extended to September 22. With that deadline having expired, the MPs have now requested another four-week extension.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat's decision on the latest request will determine when the MPs' formal responses are submitted. 

Supreme Court Seeks Expeditious Decision

The matter is also before the Supreme Court. On September 23, 2026, the court said it expected Speaker Om Birla to deal with the disqualification proceedings expeditiously.

The bench, comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, did not impose a specific deadline on the Speaker. Instead, the court emphasised the need for an early resolution considering the constitutional significance of proceedings under the Tenth Schedule. 

Supreme Court's Earlier Three-Month Reference

During the proceedings, the Supreme Court referred to its 2020 judgment in Keisham Meghachandra Singh v. Speaker, Manipur Legislative Assembly. In that case, the court had said that disqualification proceedings should ordinarily be decided within a reasonable period and indicated three months as a preferable timeframe in the absence of exceptional circumstances.

The court, however, stopped short of imposing a mandatory timeline in the present matter. 

Political Background

The dispute emerged after 20 TMC Lok Sabha MPs announced their break from the party and alignment with the NCPI. They also sought recognition as a separate group in Parliament.

The issue has developed alongside a wider dispute over the TMC's organisational identity and election symbol. The Election Commission has taken interim steps concerning the rival factions, while related proceedings are also pending before the Supreme Court. 

Claims About the MPs' Future Alignment

The latest request for additional time comes amid claims about the future political alignment of the rebel MPs.

Rebel MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia has claimed that 17 of the 20 NCPI MPs could join the BJP before or after Durga Puja. Other rebel MPs have rejected that claim, while the BJP has also distanced itself from it. These remain political claims rather than an established outcome. 

What Happens Next

The immediate issue is whether the Lok Sabha Secretariat will grant the requested four-week extension and receive the MPs' responses.

The Supreme Court has kept the broader matter pending and indicated that progress in the Speaker's proceedings will be considered at a later stage. The final decision on the disqualification petitions remains part of the proceedings before the Lok Sabha Speaker.