Leaders of the INDIA bloc briefly walked out of the Centre’s all-party meeting on Sunday after rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs were given separate seating. The meeting was held at the Parliament Annexe ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
The Opposition objected to the separate table provided to around 20 rebel TMC MPs, who are part of the Nationalist Congress of Progressive India (NCPI). They argued that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has not officially recognised the group as a separate parliamentary party.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra said the walkout was a symbolic protest. She claimed the rebel MPs had not received legal recognition and that disqualification petitions against them were still pending. Leaders from Congress, Samajwadi Party, DMK, AAP, Left parties, Shiv Sena (UBT), and other INDIA bloc partners joined the protest.
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari called the government’s move unconstitutional. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant also questioned the legal basis for giving the rebels separate status.
After registering their protest, the Opposition leaders returned to the meeting and took part in the discussions. The all-party meeting, chaired by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, focused on the government’s legislative agenda for the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament.