TMC Leader Abhishek Banerjee Calls for Disqualification of 20 MPs under Anti‑Defection Law

On 19 June 2026 , Abhishek Banerjee , national general secretary of Trinamool Congress (TMC), warned that twenty MPs who were elected on the TMC ticket in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and now claim a merger with the Nationalist Citizen Party of India (NCPI) could be disqualified under the anti‑defection law . Key Developments Banerjee said the party has submitted all relevant Supreme Court judgments on the Tenth Schedule to Speaker Om Birla and asked for an immediate ruling. The rebels assert that they form a separate group, want to elect a Lok Sabha leader, chief whip, etc., but Banerjee argues that a valid merger requires at least two‑thirds of the party’s members, not just the legislative wing. Banerjee accused the MPs of “disrespecting” the Constitution and urged them to resign, suggesting they contest future elections on a BJP or NCPI ticket. He alleged that external pressure from agencies such as the ED and CBI influenced the MPs, and warned that any challenge to his remarks can be taken to court. Important Facts The 20 MPs were elected in the 2024 general elections . Under the anti‑defection law, a party merger is valid only if at least two‑thirds of the total party members, including both legislative and organisational wings, agree to the merger. The Speaker has the constitutional authority to decide on disqualification petitions. Banerjee also mentioned personal legal pressures: he has been summoned five times, visited the CID thrice, and his house was raided twice. UPSC Relevance This episode illustrates the practical application of the anti‑defection law and the constitutional role of the Lok Sabha Speaker . Candidates for GS2 (Polity) must understand the criteria for party mergers, the significance of the Tenth Schedule, and the checks on party‑switching. The involvement of investigative agencies (ED, CBI) also highlights the intersection of politics and law‑enforcement, a recurring theme in GS3 (Economy) and GS4 (Ethics). Way Forward The Speaker is expected to hold a hearing of the 20 rebel MPs and issue a decision based on constitutional provisions. If disqualification is ordered, by‑elections will be required, testing the electorate’s response to party‑switching. For UPSC aspirants, tracking the outcome will provide a live case study on constitutional law, parliamentary procedure, and political ethics.