Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary and Lok Sabha leader Abhishek Banerjee has approached the Supreme Court challenging the alleged delay by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in deciding disqualification petitions filed against 20 rebel TMC MPs.

The plea is scheduled to be heard on August 25 by a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana.

Banerjee is seeking an expeditious decision on the disqualification petitions filed against the 20 MPs, who, according to the TMC, have broken away from the party and aligned themselves with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI).

The 20 disqualification petitions were initially submitted to Speaker Om Birla in June. Banerjee subsequently sought an early decision, including through a meeting with the Speaker on August 12, after the petitions remained pending.

The TMC has alleged that the MPs voluntarily gave up their membership of the party and are therefore liable for disqualification under the anti-defection provisions of the Constitution. The rebel MPs, however, have claimed to have merged with the NCPI and sought recognition as a separate group in the Lok Sabha.

According to reports, the political developments followed a rebellion within the TMC, with the 20 MPs moving away from the party and aligning with the NCPI in June 2026.

Banerjee had earlier indicated that he would approach the Supreme Court if the Speaker did not take action within the timeframe prescribed by law and judicial directions.

The Supreme Court's hearing on August 25 is expected to examine Banerjee's grievance regarding the delay in deciding the disqualification petitions and the relief sought against the Speaker.

The matter also comes amid wider litigation concerning the Speaker's role in deciding disqualification proceedings under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.