TMC Rebel Camp Grows. Sudeep Bandyopadhyay Joins. 22 MPs to Meet Lok Sabha Speaker.

New Delhi: Sudeep Bandyopadhyay said he decided to stay with the rebel camp after appeals from rebel MPs and MLAs. However, he also said he has not yet signed the letter to be submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. He added that he will sign it only in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari.
Rebel TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who is leading the rebel group in Lok Sabha, claimed that two more MPs are set to join their camp. She said this will take the total number of rebel MPs in Lok Sabha to 22.

What Kakoli Ghosh had said?

Speaking to journalists at the airport, she said, "We are going to Delhi to meet the Lok Sabha Speaker. We have 22 MPs with us. The Speaker has given us time. We will meet him on Monday and request recognition as a separate group."

Who else has signed?

As per reports, a copy of the letter had been circulated widely in political circles and on digital spaces. Shatabdi Roy from Birbhum, Bapi Haldar from Mathurapur, Sharmila Sarkar from Bardhaman Purba, Jagdish Chandra Barma Basunia from Cooch Behar and Asit Mal from Bolpur were among those who have signed. A rebel MP also had confirmed about the circulating social media post and potential speculations. It was also confirmed that more people could join soon.

Beyond the anti-defection threshold?

This is where legally significant pointers start. TMC count is of 28 members in the Lok Sabha. After Congress and Samajwadi Party, it is the third largest opposition party. The rebel camp claimed earlier that the support of 19 MPs. That number crosses the two-thirds majority threshold required under anti-defection laws. If these numbers hold up, the rebels could be entitled to legal protection from disqualification. Sources close to the rebel group say they have informed the Lok Sabha Speaker about forming a separate parliamentary group under the leadership of Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, while continuing to support the NDA independently.