New Delhi [India], June 17 : Amid growing tensions within the Trinamool Congress, party MP Kirti Azad on Wednesday dismissed the rebel MP camp, who decided to merge with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), as lacking any political legitimacy and said TMC, led by Mamata Banerjee, remains the "genuine" party.
Speaking to reporters, Azad drew parallels between sports and politics, stating, "Today we see two teams: one real, the Trinamool Congress with its twin-flower symbol led by Mamata Banerjee, and the other a group of defectors with the pen-nib symbol, called the Nationalist Citizens Party of India. "
Highlighting the electoral performance of his party, the TMC leader pointed to the vote share secured in the recent polls by his party.
"TMC got 2 crore 60 lakh votes (41%) against all odds, whereas the defectors' team has no credibility... TMC remains the genuine party, led by Mamata Banerjee," Azad stated.
Azad's remarks came after reports that the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's office had sent an email to the group of TMC MPs led by Mamata Banerjee, inviting them for a formal meeting as part of the process of hearing both factions before taking any decision.
According to sources, Birla is reviewing the status of the 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs and will decide after hearing both factions.
On June 14, the rebel faction, led by senior parliamentarian Sudip Bandyopadhyay, met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to submit a formal request for separate seating arrangements. By merging with the NCPI, the group claims to have bypassed the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.
Under the anti-defection law, a merger is permissible if at least two-thirds of a legislative party joins another. With 20 MPs in their camp, the rebels assert they have comfortably exceeded this threshold.
The Nationalist Citizens Party of India, a Tripura-based party, has suddenly been in the national limelight. Despite its limited organisational footprint, the party has welcomed the influx of high-profile leaders, with national organising secretary Shantanu Dey stating that he is eager to see the party grow and work in alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision.