Abhishek Banerjee to Discuss TMC Split with Speaker Om Birla

New Delhi, June 19 (PTI): Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee is scheduled to meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday evening to discuss the party's internal split and challenge the recognition of a faction that has separated from the main group. Sources indicate that Banerjee's meeting with Birla is set for 5 pm in the Speaker's Parliament Chamber.

The meeting is taking place after Speaker Birla extended an invitation to the TMC Lok Sabha leader, allowing him to voice his opinions on the matter before any official decision is made regarding the request by 20 rebel Trinamool Congress MPs. These MPs have sought recognition as a distinct group following their merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India.

Earlier on June 10, Banerjee addressed a letter to the Speaker, urging him to refrain from providing recognition, status, or any privileges to any group asserting themselves as a separate faction of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC). Banerjee argued that such a move would be inconsistent with the Constitution and the anti-defection law, which do not support the creation of separate factions within an existing political party. He also requested that the AITC be granted an opportunity to present its case before any decision is made regarding the faction's claim.

While the rebel MPs have already had their meeting with the Speaker, Birla expressed his intent to listen to both perspectives before arriving at a decision.

Parliamentary sources have suggested that the Speaker will base his decision on the applicable law and the rules governing the House.