Opposition Raises Concerns Over Separate Seating for Rebel MPs in Parliament

New Delhi, July 19: Ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament, opposition parties united to express their dissent against the government during an all-party meeting held on Saturday. Sougata Roy, a member of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), questioned the Speaker of the Lok Sabha regarding the arrangement made for the 20 rebel TMC MPs who joined the National Congress Party of India (NCPI).

Roy stated to reporters that a disqualification petition concerning these rebel MPs is currently pending before the Speaker. He remarked, “It is up to the Speaker to make a decision. We have submitted the disqualification petition to him.”

He claimed that as of late last night, the Speaker had not granted recognition to the group of rebel MPs as a separate political party.

The TMC also objected to the invitation extended to Sudip Bandopadhyay, a rebel TMC MP, to attend the all-party meeting. Roy asserted, “We oppose this and will continue to do so.”

Expressing their frustration over the issue, opposition parties staged a walkout from the meeting. Roy accused the Speaker of inviting a group that has yet to receive recognition, thereby undermining the tradition and dignity of the meeting.

P. Santosh Kumar, a member of the Communist Party of India (CPI), stated that the walkout was a protest against the attitude of the Speaker and the Parliamentary Affairs Minister. He emphasized that the decision to include the so-called rebel MPs in the meeting was unacceptable, accusing the ruling party of promoting defection among political parties, which he deemed detrimental to democracy.

John Brittas, a Rajya Sabha MP from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], also criticized the government and the Speaker. He pointed out that despite the matter concerning the division within the TMC being pending before the Speaker, the rebel group was invited to the all-party meeting. According to him, this contradicts the dignity and credibility of the meeting.

Brittas alleged that the Speaker’s role appears to align more with the interests of the ruling party rather than acting as an impartial guardian. He warned that the institutional traditions related to the independence and fairness of Parliament are weakening, and the current stance of the central government is not in the nation’s best interest.

–