Disqualification Row: 20 Rebel TMC MPs Seek Fourth Extension Until November 3

20 Rebel TMC MPs Seek Fourth Extension

Twenty rebel MPs of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have once again sought additional time to respond to a disqualification petition filed by party leader Abhishek Banerjee before Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

According to reports published on October 22, 2026, the MPs have requested an extension until November 3. Their latest request was submitted in a letter dated October 20, the day their previous deadline expired.

The Speaker’s office has not yet announced a decision on the fourth extension request.

Why Have the MPs Requested More Time?

The MPs reportedly cited the Durga Puja holiday period in West Bengal as a reason for being unable to complete their replies within the existing deadline.

In separate letters submitted to the Lok Sabha Secretariat, they requested approximately two additional weeks to prepare their responses to the disqualification petition.

The request follows several earlier extensions granted during the ongoing proceedings. The latest request is the fourth time the rebel MPs have sought additional time, according to the reports.

Abhishek Banerjee’s Disqualification Petition

The disqualification proceedings stem from a petition filed by TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee seeking action against the 20 MPs under the Members of Lok Sabha (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1985.

The petition invokes Rule 6 of the rules and seeks the MPs’ disqualification under the anti-defection framework.

The dispute began after the MPs broke ranks with the TMC leadership and aligned themselves with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). They have sought recognition as a separate parliamentary group, while their status remains part of the ongoing dispute.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Yet to Decide

The request for an extension is currently pending before the Lok Sabha Speaker’s office.

The Speaker’s office had previously given the MPs until October 20 to submit their replies. With that deadline having passed, the latest request will determine whether they receive further time to prepare their responses.

The decision is significant because the disqualification proceedings remain unresolved, and the MPs’ replies form part of the process before the Speaker considers the petition.

Supreme Court Had Called for an Expeditious Decision

The matter has also drawn the attention of the Supreme Court. In September, the court urged the Lok Sabha Speaker to resolve the disqualification petitions expeditiously.

The proceedings concern the constitutional anti-defection framework, under which legislators may face disqualification in specified circumstances involving party membership or conduct.

However, the Supreme Court’s call for an expeditious resolution should be distinguished from the deadline for the MPs to submit their replies. The immediate issue is whether the Speaker’s office will grant the latest extension request.

What Happens Next?

The next step depends on the Speaker’s decision on the request for time until November 3.

If the extension is granted, the MPs will have additional time to submit their responses. The Speaker will then consider the submissions as part of the ongoing disqualification proceedings.

The case remains a significant legal and political dispute within the TMC parliamentary group. No final decision on the disqualification of the 20 MPs had been reported alongside the latest extension request.

Key Takeaways

• Twenty rebel TMC MPs have sought a fourth extension to respond to a disqualification petition.

• They have requested additional time until November 3, 2026.

• The previous deadline set by the Lok Sabha Speaker’s office was October 20.

• The MPs reportedly cited the Durga Puja holiday period and the time needed to prepare their replies.

• TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee filed the petition seeking their disqualification under the anti-defection rules.

• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s office has not yet announced a decision on the latest request.

• The Supreme Court has previously urged an expeditious resolution of the disqualification proceedings.