Om Birla Likely to Decide on Merger of 20 Rebel TMC MPs with NCPI Ahead of Monsoon Session

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is expected to announce his decision on Monday morning on the proposed merger of 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), ahead of the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

Official sources said the Speaker's office has completed examining documents submitted by the rebel MPs, including proof of the NCPI's registration with the Election Commission. The decision is likely to be made public before the Lok Sabha convenes at 11 a.m.

The Speaker had deferred the matter on Saturday while approving the merger of six rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs with the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. However, he permitted separate seating arrangements for the rebel TMC MPs, away from the official TMC benches.

The development follows the reported revolt of 20 out of 28 TMC MPs, who broke away after the party's defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections and aligned with the NCPI. The legislators have sought recognition of the NCPI and expressed their willingness to support the BJP-led NDA. On Sunday, senior leaders Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Sudip Bandyopadhyay attended the government's all-party meeting as NCPI representatives, prompting a brief walkout by Opposition parties.

The case has brought renewed focus to the anti-defection law under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, introduced in 1985 to discourage political defections. It allows a merger without disqualification if at least two-thirds of a legislature party agrees to merge with another political party, subject to constitutional requirements.

As the authority empowered to decide such petitions, the Lok Sabha Speaker examines legislative strength, documentary evidence and compliance with the Tenth Schedule before issuing a ruling. While the decision can be challenged in court, it remains effective unless overturned.

The ruling could significantly influence parliamentary arithmetic, coalition politics and the balance of power in the Lok Sabha, while also shaping the debate on party discipline, legislative stability and constitutional governance.