Earlier, on September 25, the Speaker had granted them time until October 8. On Thursday, October 8, the MPs wrote to the Speaker seeking an extension until October 22, their previous demand. This was the third time the MPs had sought an extension. However, the Speaker has now granted them time until October 20 instead of October 22, as demanded by the MPs.
The MPs rebelled against the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress and subsequently merged with the NCPI, seeking recognition as a separate political entity. Before Parliament’s Monsoon Session, the Speaker provided separate seating arrangements for the 20 rebel MPs. However, the Speaker’s office has not yet recognised them as a parliamentary party.
On September 25, the Supreme Court, while hearing the petition filed by Abhishek Banerjee, observed that the Lok Sabha Speaker should dispose of the petition expeditiously.
Banerjee’s petition seeks the disqualification of the 20 rebel MPs under Rule 6 of the Members of Lok Sabha (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1985.
