Kolkata: Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has moved the Supreme Court against Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, Lok Sabha secretary general and 20 Nationalist Citizens’ Party (NCPI) MPs, questioning the delay in deciding disqualification petitions filed against the rebel MPs.The petition, registered in the SC on Monday, alleges that the speaker has failed to act under the anti-defection law despite repeated representations. Banerjee had first approached Birla on June 19, seeking the disqualification of the 20 MPs under Rule 6 of the Lok Sabha Members (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1985. He subsequently sent a written reminder on July 27 and held a follow-up meeting with the speaker on Aug 12.The plea also flags changes to the Lok Sabha seating arrangement, alleging that the rebel MPs were moved forward while Trinamool members were shifted back, despite the speaker not having formally recognised their alleged switch or issued a hearing notification.Banerjee has claimed that the rebel MPs continue to speak in Parliament as members of the AITC while identifying themselves as NCPI members outside the House. The Supreme Court is expected to hear the matter this week.
