Bengal Speaker to Hear Plea on Disqualification of 10 Rebel Trinamool MLAs

The hearing has been scheduled for 3 p.m. in the Speaker's chamber, with the 10 legislators and their legal representatives expected to attend.

Senior Trinamool legislator Sovandeb Chattopadhyay is also expected to appear on behalf of the faction led by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee. Representatives of that faction are likely to be accompanied by their legal counsel.

The disqualification issue arose following the split within the Trinamool Congress, after which Chattopadhyay approached the Supreme Court seeking action against the 10 legislators, including Ritabrata Banerjee.

Last month, the Supreme Court disposed of the matter and held that the decision on the disqualification petitions ultimately rests with the West Bengal Assembly Speaker. The court also said it was desirable for the Speaker to take a decision at the earliest.

Following the Supreme Court's observations, Bose scheduled the hearing for Thursday afternoon.

At the time of the Supreme Court proceedings, Bose was on an official visit abroad. After returning to Kolkata, he was hospitalised earlier this month following a deterioration in his health. He has since resumed his duties and scheduled the hearing as one of his first major decisions after returning to work.

The political dispute has also extended to the Election Commission, which has frozen the original "All India Trinamool Congress" name and its "Grassroots & Flower" symbol amid the factional dispute.

The Mamata Banerjee-led faction has been allotted the name "Mamata All India Trinamool Congress" along with the "Football Player" symbol, while the Ritabrata-led group has been assigned the name "Democratic Trinamool Congress" and the "Envelope" symbol.

The Speaker's decision could determine the future status of the 10 legislators amid the ongoing dispute between the two rival factions.