File photo: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla
NEW DELHI: The 20 rebel TMC MPs, whose merger with Nationalist Citizens Party of India is yet to get Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s recognition, are likely to hold their parliamentary party meeting here under the aegis of their new organisation Sunday, with its senior member Sudip Bandyopadhyay expressing confidence that they will be part of the customary pre-session all-party meeting scheduled for the same day.If Birla recognises NCPI then it will become BJP’s biggest ally, ahead of TDP, which has 16 MPs in the House. However, the rebel TMC camp is confident of recognition on the ground that they are more than two-thirds of 28 LS MPs of the original party, as required to escape disqualification provisions of the anti-defection law.Bandyopadhyay and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar met Birla Monday in what is seen as the Speaker’s outreach to both sides before he makes up his mind, sources said. Birla is expected to decide on the twin merger applications, the other one of six Sena UBT MPs joining Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, before Parliament’s monsoon session beginning from Monday.Asked by TOI if NCPI will be represented in the all-party meeting govt has convened Sunday, Bandyopadhyay answered in the affirmative, conveying the optimism in his camp.Sources said he will be the leader of the NCPI parliamentary party once it is recognised, while Dastidar will be its chief whip. Satabdi Roy is likely to be the deputy leader.
