Rebel TMC MPs Announce Merger with Nationalist Citizens Party, Seek Separate Recognition in Lok Sabha

PTI, June 14, 2026, New Delhi: The rebellion in the Trinamool Congress on Sunday reached a flash point, with dissident MPs announcing their merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party and meeting Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking a separate seating arrangement in the House.

After meeting the Speaker, rebel MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar claimed that two-thirds of the TMC's Lok Sabha members had submitted a letter seeking recognition as a separate group.

"Two-thirds MPs of TMC have given a letter to the Speaker for a separate seating arrangement. We will merge with the Nationalist Citizens Party and support the NDA," she told mediapersons.

Senior TMC leader and Lok Sabha MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay said the dissident camp had already merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party, which he described as a regional party.

The Nationalist Citizens Party is a lesser-known registered, unrecognised party from Tripura.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress parliamentary party leader in the Lok Sabha, Abhishek Banerjee, has written to the Speaker urging him not to accord any recognition, status or facility to any purported separate faction, asserting that the Constitution and anti-defection law do not permit the formation of a separate group within an existing political party.

In his letter, party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee requested that the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) be treated as a single political party represented in the House only through its duly authorised leader and whip, and that the party be given an opportunity to present its case before any decision is taken on any communication from dissident MPs.

The letter, dated June 10, was submitted on Sunday by TMC MPs Kirti Azad and Sagarika Ghose at Birla's residence here.

"Treat the AITC as a single political party represented in the House solely through its duly authorised Leader and Whip, and decline to accord any recognition, status, or facility to any purported separate group or faction of the AITC," Banerjee said in his letter.

Citing the Supreme Court's Constitution Bench judgment in the Maharashtra political crisis case, Banerjee argued that the defence of a "split" is no longer available under the Tenth Schedule and that the legal framework contemplates identification of one political party, not recognition of rival factions within it.

"Afford the AITC an opportunity of being heard before any decision is taken on any communication of the nature referred to above, should the same be received," he said.

Banerjee also contended that any merger claim would require both a merger of the political party and the support of two-thirds of legislators, and that satisfying only one of these conditions would not be sufficient under the law.

The rebel camp has maintained that it enjoys the backing of a majority of the party's parliamentary strength.

Abhishek Banerjee said the Trinamool Congress reserves its right to initiate proceedings under the anti-defection law against any conduct violating the provisions of the Tenth Schedule.

The battle for control of the TMC is being fought simultaneously in Parliament and the West Bengal Assembly.

Last week, 64 of the party's 80 MLAs broke away and secured recognition as a separate legislative formation, with Ritabrata Banerjee being recognised as the Leader of Opposition.

That decision has been challenged by the Mamata Banerjee-led faction before the Calcutta High Court.