NEW DELHI — Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was expected to decide on Monday whether to recognize the merger of 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) lawmakers with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), a ruling that could reshape the party's parliamentary strength ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, according to official sources.
The rebel MPs have petitioned the Speaker to recognize their merger with the NCPI, arguing that their group satisfies the constitutional requirements governing mergers under the anti-defection law. The Trinamool Congress has opposed the request, maintaining that the party remains united and that the dissident lawmakers cannot claim a valid merger without meeting the constitutional and legal standards.
According to parliamentary sources, Birla sought additional documentation from the rebel group, including proof of the NCPI's registration with the Election Commission of India and other supporting records. Those documents were submitted to the Speaker's office on Sunday evening, paving the way for a final decision before parliamentary proceedings began.
The Speaker had earlier approved separate seating arrangements in the Lok Sabha for the 20 rebel MPs while withholding a decision on formal recognition of their merger. The procedural move marked a limited acknowledgment of the group's distinct position but stopped short of granting it parliamentary status as an NCPI bloc.
The issue has become one of the most closely watched parliamentary disputes before the Monsoon Session. Opposition parties staged a walkout from Sunday's customary all-party meeting after objecting to the participation of the rebel MPs, arguing that any recognition before a formal ruling on their status was inappropriate.
The Speaker has previously said he would hear submissions from both the rebel faction and the TMC leadership before reaching a decision. Parliamentary sources have also indicated that legal and procedural aspects of the case were examined because any ruling could face judicial scrutiny.
The dispute follows a split within the TMC's Lok Sabha contingent, with the dissident lawmakers seeking recognition under the anti-defection provisions that permit mergers subject to constitutional requirements. The Speaker's decision will determine the parliamentary status of the rebel group as the Monsoon Session gets underway.
