TMC 2.0 is born, but will it find a place in the Sun?
It's official now, the Trinamul Congress (TMC) party has split, with the majority of 59 out of 80 MLAs opting out of the party founded and led by Mamata Banerjee.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O’Brien on Monday launched a sharp attack on the government after a notice seeking the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner was rejected, alleging that no reasons were provided and accusing the ruling BJP of undermining Parliament.
“Notice to remove CEC ‘Vanish’ Kumar by Rajya Sabha MPs rejected. Reason? NO REASON GIVEN. BJP keep mocking our great Parliament. SHAME,” O’Brien said in a post on X, expressing strong disapproval over the development.
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In a separate post, the Rajya Sabha MP said the motion to remove the Chief Election Commissioner had been submitted in the Upper House on March 12, with a separate notice filed in the Lok Sabha on the same issue. “Parliament ran till 2 April. Both notices totally ignored in Parliament,” he said, raising questions over the handling of the matter. “What devious ploy is the BJP now planning to save their Vanish Kumar,” he asked.
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The remarks came amid confirmed developments in the Lok Sabha, where Speaker Om Birla refused to admit a motion seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. According to an official release from the Lok Sabha Legislative Branch, the decision followed “due consideration” and a “careful and objective assessment” of the notice submitted by Members of Parliament.
While the Lok Sabha Secretariat outlined procedural grounds for rejecting the motion, the Opposition has seized on the issue to question transparency and the functioning of parliamentary processes. O’Brien’s remarks reflect a broader criticism from Opposition parties, which have increasingly raised concerns about institutional independence and accountability.
The removal of a Chief Election Commissioner is governed by strict constitutional provisions, requiring the admission of a motion before any formal inquiry can begin. Such steps are rare and designed to ensure the autonomy of the Election Commission of India, which is responsible for overseeing elections in the country.
The BJP has not issued an immediate response to the allegations, but the issue is expected to further fuel political tensions between the government and the opposition over the functioning of Parliament and constitutional bodies.
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