Before rebel TMC MPs' meeting with Speaker Om Birla, the Trinamool Congress parliamentary party leader and Diamond Harbour MP, Abhishek Banerjee, wrote to the Speaker, urging him not to accord any recognition, status or facility to any group claiming to be a separate faction of the party.
The Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the party is facing a massive rebellion among its lawmakers, both in the Legislative Assembly and the Parliament, after its defeat in the West Bengal assembly election.
The rebel group, led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, has claimed that its support has grown to 22 MPs. The rebel group met the Speaker on Sunday to seek recognition as a separate parliamentary bloc.
In his letter, Abhishek Banerjee requested that his submission be placed on record that the TMC be treated as a single political party represented in the House only through its duly authorised leader and whip. He added that the party be given an opportunity to present its case before any decision is taken on any communication from the rebel group.
The letter dated June 10 was submitted on Sunday by TMC MPs Sagarika Ghose and Kirti Azad at Birla's residence in New Delhi.
"Treat the AITC as a single political party represented in the House solely through its duly authorised Leader and Whip, and decline to accord any recognition, status, or facility to any purported separate group or faction of the AITC," Banerjee said in his letter.
"Afford the AITC an opportunity of being heard before any decision is taken on any communication of the nature referred to above, should the same be received," he said.
Banerjee also added that any merger claim would require both a merger of the political party and the support of two-thirds of legislators, and that satisfying only one of these conditions would not be sufficient under the law.
ALSO READ: Mamata Banerjee Overhauls TMC's Youth, Women Wings; Removes Saayoni Ghosh, Mala Roy From Key Posts
Kakoli had so far claimed the backing of 20 out of 28 Lok Sabha TMC MPs. However, on Sunday, she claimed the support had grown to 22. Speaking to reporters at Kolkata airport before leaving for New Delhi, Ghosh said two more Lok Sabha members were expected to join the faction shortly, which would take its strength in the House to 22.
(With PTI Inputs)