New Delhi: Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha leader Abhishek Banerjee on Monday met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to press two key demands — the early disposal
of the party’s disqualification petitions against 20 rebel MPs and the withdrawal of the suspension imposed on TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee.
Abhishek was accompanied by senior TMC MPs, including Sougata Roy, during the meeting with the Speaker in Parliament.
According to party sources, the delegation reiterated its demand for the disqualification of 20 MPs who allegedly left the Trinamool Congress to join the NCPI, accusing them of engaging in anti-party activities. The party had submitted separate disqualification petitions against each of the legislators about a month ago and sought an update on the status of those applications.
This was the second meeting between Abhishek Banerjee and the Speaker on the issue within a month. During the earlier meeting, he had requested the disqualification of the rebel MPs under the anti-defection provisions.
The TMC delegation also appealed for the revocation of Kalyan Banerjee’s suspension from the Lok Sabha.
Kalyan Banerjee, the MP from Serampore, was suspended for the remainder of the ongoing parliamentary session following allegations of misconduct involving NCPI MP Mitali Bag. Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, had earlier urged the Speaker to reconsider the suspension.
The Trinamool Congress has maintained that prompt action is required on both matters and has requested the Speaker to expedite the decision on the pending disqualification petitions while reviewing Kalyan Banerjee’s suspension.
