Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to hear both TMC factions on party split

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has scheduled a meeting with Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on June 19 to consider the demand of a breakaway faction of the party. The 20 rebel MPs have announced a merger with the little‑known Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) and seek separate recognition in the lower house.

Birla will also seek the view of the remaining Mamata Banerjee‑led rump, having emailed its leaders. A decision is expected before the Monsoon Session of Parliament and will be based on a legal opinion from the Union law ministry and senior law officers to ensure judicial scrutiny. Constitutional experts note that only whole parties, not individual MPs or MLAs, can merge under the anti‑defection law. The rebels claim that two‑thirds of TMC MPs have signed a request to be seated separately and intend to support the NDA after the merger.