Kapil Sibal calls for disqualification of TMC's rebel MPs

Business To Business, New Delhi, 14^th June, 2026:    Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Sunday called for the disqualification of the rebel MPs of the All India Trinamool Congress, arguing that their announced merger with another political party is not permissible under the anti-defection framework unless the original party itself decides to merge.
Commenting on the deepening crisis within the TMC, Sibal said that the dissident lawmakers could not unilaterally merge with the Nationalist Citizens Party and continue to retain their status as MPs without attracting disqualification proceedings.
He also remarked that Indian democracy had become a "theatre of the absurd," reflecting his criticism of the unfolding political developments.
Sibal's comments came after rebel TMC MPs met Om Birla and sought a separate seating arrangement in the Lok Sabha. The dissident faction has claimed that it enjoys the support of two-thirds of the TMC's Lok Sabha members and has announced its intention to merge with the Nationalist Citizens Party while extending support to the National Democratic Alliance.
The controversy has brought renewed attention to the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, commonly known as the anti-defection law, which governs defections, party splits, and mergers in legislatures. The interpretation of these provisions is likely to be central to any decision taken by the Speaker regarding the rebels' status.
The rebellion has emerged as one of the biggest challenges faced by the party led by Mamata Banerjee following the West Bengal Assembly Election 2026, with the outcome of the dispute expected to have significant implications for the future of the TMC's parliamentary presence.