The rebel TMC MPs who merged with the little-known NCPI have sought two more weeks to respond to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s notices on a petition seeking their disqualification under the anti-defection law, even as signs have emerged of a clear rift within the group.
Rift Within Trinamool Rebel Camp? MP Who Led Exodus Skips Group’s Meet
Some could not attend today’s meeting as it was called at two days’ notice. Twenty MPs from Mamata Banerjee’s party had defected and merged with the NCPI to support the ruling NDA in Parliament after the Trinamool’s defeat in the Assembly polls. Rachana Banerjee also spoke about seeking additional time to reply to the Speaker. It was a mutual decision”. All is well. The number of our MPs will increase. There is no rift among us. Kakoli di is our Chief Whip.
Because of some family problems”, she is with us, but she could not make it today. When asked about many MPs skipping the meeting, Rachana Banerjee said: “All 20 MPs are together.
NCPI MP Rachana Banerjee, however, downplayed the meeting, calling it “just a pre-puja get-together”. But sources said the issue of seeking an extension to reply to the Lok Sabha Speaker was on the agenda. actor-turned-MP Rachana Banerjee said, “It’s just a pre-puja meeting, we wanted to catch up and discuss some of the issues” While speaking to NDTV. She said, “That is the party policy.
