Several rebel Members of Parliament (MPs) belonging to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have petitioned the Lok Sabha secretariat for a three-week extension to file their formal replies to disqualification notices. These notices were issued following internal party disputes and allegations of anti-party activities, which have prompted the TMC leadership to seek the removal of these members from their parliamentary seats.

The process of disqualification under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution—often referred to as the anti-defection law—requires MPs to provide a defense against claims that they have voluntarily given up their party membership or violated party directives. By requesting this additional time, the rebel MPs are seeking to prepare their legal arguments and gather evidence to contest the disqualification proceedings.

While the TMC leadership maintains that the members have effectively left the party, the rebels argue that their actions do not constitute a formal resignation or a violation of the party whip that would necessitate disqualification. The Lok Sabha speaker’s office has not yet officially confirmed whether the three-week extension will be granted, as the timeline for such responses is typically dictated by parliamentary rules and the discretion of the Speaker. The outcome of this request will determine the next steps in the legal battle between the TMC leadership and the dissenting lawmakers, potentially setting a precedent for how similar internal party conflicts are handled within the lower house.