Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra on Friday launched a sharp attack on the TMC rebel MPs, saying they have no constitutional basis to form a separate parliamentary group while retaining their seats. Her remarks come as internal tensions continue to grow within the party.
Referring to the anti defection provisions and the 91st Constitutional Amendment, Moitra said the dissident MPs have only two options: resign from Parliament or openly join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and contest elections on its ticket. She argued that merely gathering a group of MPs does not automatically create a recognised faction under the law.
Moitra dismissed claims by the rebels that they have sufficient numbers to function as a separate bloc. According to her post on X, the Constitution does not allow legislators to break away from a party without meeting strict legal requirements related to mergers and defections.
“Traitor TMC lawmakers don’t know law. Constitution 91st Amendment 2003 removed the provision for split/separate bloc. Number of MPs is irrelevant. Two-thirds of original political party has to merge with another party. All 19 traitors need to resign and contest on BJP ticket,” she wrote.
The comments come amid a deepening crisis within the TMC, with several MPs resigning from the party and others reportedly seeking recognition as a separate group while extending support to the BJP led NDA at the Centre.
Moitra accused the rebels of betraying the mandate on which they were elected and challenged them to seek a fresh mandate from voters under a BJP banner if they no longer support the TMC.
