Welcome to The India Fix by Shoaib Daniyal. A newsletter on Indian politics. (This is the second one this week – a record.)
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One nation, one tax. One nation, one ration card. One nation, one election.
The Modi government loves this slogan format. So much so that it is working hard towards adding another to its arsenal: one nation, one party.
Over the past month, the Trinamool Congress has practically ceased to exist both in the West Bengal Assembly as well Parliament. Last fortnight, 20 Lok Sabha MPs from the Trinamool wrote to the speaker extending support to the Modi government. A few days later, this group announced a merger with an little-known outfit called the Nationalist Citizens Party of India.
Ending the Opposition
The Nationalist Citizens Party of India has fought one election till now. It contested two seats in the last Tripura assembly elections, receiving a total of 822 votes. With this merger, it now becomes the fifth-largest party in India’s lower house.
This absurd turn of events has come about because the MPs are trying to seek refuge in a clause in the anti-defection law that allows mergers if two-thirds of legislators support it. However, if this is itself legal or if a merger is only valid if the parties themselves merge (and not just their legislators) is an open question. More on this later in the newsletter.
This development came after 58 of the 80 MLAs of the Trinamool in the Bengal Assembly rebelled against the party and elected an expelled partyman, Ritabrata Banerjee, as the leader of the Opposition.
At the other end of the country, the western state of Maharashtra is also seeing something similar. There are reports of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) being split, with both its MPs and MLAs allegedly being induced to leave the party.
This comes just a couple of months after seven of the Aam Aadmi Party’s 10 Rajya Sabha MPs announced they had merged with the BJP.
Anti or pro?
Given the scale of defections happening right now, one would scarcely believe that India actually has a long-standing law to prevent legislators from disobeying their party. Called the anti-defection law, the provision has never worked very well. But now it might be all but dead.
The law was passed in 1985 by the Congress. Though the party had won an astounding 414 seats in the previous Lok Sabha election in 1984, it was clear that this result was a one-off anomaly – more a sympathy vote for Indira Gandhi after her assisination than a true measure of the Congress’ strength.
In reality, the party had been declining for more than a decade. Under Jawaharlal Nehru, the party functioned as a coalition of satraps. Now those satraps were increasingly turning political entrepreneurs and forming parties of their own – and often taking away Congress legislators. The Congress under Rajiv Gandhi felt itself so weak at the time, that rather than internally enforce party discipline, it used its control of Parliament to simply outlaw defections altogether.
India today, is of course, very different from what it was in 1985. Far from being helmed by a declining Grand Old Party, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party today is on the ascendant. Though the Modi government does not even have a simple majority in the Lok Sabha, its control over state instructions, mainstream media and backing from big capital means it is powerful like few governments in India’s history and has, hence, no need for a law to keep its flock in check. Few legislators, even if disgruntled, would dare disobey the party leadership.
BJP, courts weaken the law
On the other hand, the powerful BJP is keen to suck in leaders – using both carrot and stick – from other parties. For it, any law against defection is a hindrance to establishing dominance and maybe even hegemony over Indian politics.
In theory, India’s judiciary could stymie the decline of the anti-defection law. Instead, it seems to be helping kill it. In Karnataka in 2019 as well as in Maharashtra in 2022, the Supreme Court effectively froze the law, allowing non-BJP governments to be toppled and for the BJP to assume office.
In 2022, the Goa bench of Bombay High Court also upheld the merger of 10 Congress MLAs with the BJP in spite of the text of the law stating quite clearly that mergers only apply to “original” political parties and not their legislative arms.
Since the “original” Congress and BJP have clearly not merged, the High Court’s decision is befuddling to say the least. This judgment is the basis of the present splits in the Trinamool, Aam Aadmi Party and potentially the Shiv Sena.
A real problem
The anti-defection law has come in for sharp criticism over the years for weakening a critical aspect of democracy: the power of elected legislators. In effect, the law empowers parties over elected representatives.
But the law has been unable to achieve its st…
Read the full article at Scroll.in →📄Source document: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla
39 reports
Times of IndiaIndependentCenter2 days agoTrinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to submit disqualification petitions against 20 rebel TMC MPs who have sought to join the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). The petitions include legal judgments, media reports, and are each 21 pages long. Banerjee expressed hope that the Speaker would act in accordance with the Constitution.
Bias read (Center): The article presents facts without overtly biased language or selective sourcing. It reports on the submission of legal petitions by a political figure without taking a stance on the legitimacy of the actions or the outcome. The framing remains neutral, focusing on procedural details rather than ide
Official sources cited
- press release Abhishek Banerjee's statement to PTI
Scroll.inIndependentLeft2 days agoThe article discusses the potential implications of the anti-defection law in India following recent developments involving Trinamool Congress members merging with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India. It highlights how this move could affect parliamentary dynamics and the effectiveness of the anti-defection law.
Bias read (Left): The article frames the situation as 'absurd' and criticizes the merger as a workaround to bypass the anti-defection law, implying skepticism toward the legitimacy of the move. The tone suggests disapproval of the Modi government's influence over opposition parties and questions the legality of the '
Times of IndiaIndependentCenter3 days ago Speaker to hear Abhishek tomorrow on split in TMCLok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has invited TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee to meet on June 19 to discuss the internal split in the Trinamool Congress (TMC). This follows demands from 20 rebel TMC MPs seeking recognition as a separate group after merging with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India. Birla plans to hear both factions before making a decision. Abhishek previously urged Birla not to recognize any separate faction, citing constitutional grounds.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly biased language or framing. It reports on procedural actions taken by the Lok Sabha Speaker and includes statements from involved parties without apparent ideological slant.
Official sources cited
- government Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla
- organisation TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee
Hindustan TimesIndependentCenter4 days agoLok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has invited Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee to meet on June 19 to present his case regarding the internal split in the party. This follows a request from 20 rebel Trinamool Congress MPs seeking recognition as a separate group after merging with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India. Birla plans to hear both factions before making a decision. Abhishek Banerjee previously urged the Speaker not to recognize any separate faction within the All India Trinamool Congress, citing constitutional and legal grounds.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly biased language or selective sourcing. It reports on procedural actions taken by the Lok Sabha Speaker and includes statements from multiple parties involved without apparent favoritism.
Official sources cited
- government Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla
- organisation Trinamool Congress
The HinduIndependentCenter6 days agoTwenty rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs have formed a new bloc called the 'real TMC' and merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), an unrecognized regional political party registered with the Election Commission of India in early 2023. The NCPI was founded in 2015 by Shiuli Kundu and later rebranded in 2023. The party participated in the 2023 Tripura assembly elections but did not achieve significant success.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about the formation of a new political bloc and its merger with the NCPI without apparent ideological bias. It reports on events objectively, citing official sources such as the Election Commission of India and does not exhibit loaded language or one-sided ph
Official sources cited
- government Election Commission of India
The HinduIndependentCenter7 days ago Abhishek Banerjee makes second appearance before CID in West Bengal MLAs signature forgery caseTMC leader Abhishek Banerjee appeared before the West Bengal Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for the second time in connection with an alleged forgery of MLAs' signatures related to the appointment of the leader of opposition in the West Bengal Assembly. He arrived at the police headquarters earlier than scheduled and was questioned for several hours. His first appearance before the CID occurred following a directive from the Calcutta High Court, which also provided him with interim protection.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a factual account of events without apparent ideological framing. It reports on legal proceedings involving a prominent political figure but does not exhibit overtly biased language, one-sided sourcing, or omission of context. The narrative remains neutral, focusing on the facts
Official sources cited
- court Calcutta High Court
- government West Bengal Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID)
Times of IndiaIndependentCenter7 days ago Battle of real ‘TMC’ begins as rebel MPs merge with Nationalist Citizens PartyA group of dissident Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs claimed they had broken away from the party and merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party, a smaller regional party based in Tripula. The rebels met with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to seek recognition as a separate parliamentary group. Rebel MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar stated that two-thirds of TMC's Lok Sabha members supported the move. Senior TMC leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay confirmed the merger but described the Nationalist Citizens Party as a regional entity. The situation has sparked debate over which faction truly represents the TMC, with Bnd
Bias read (Center): The article reports on an event involving political parties without taking a stance or using biased language. It presents facts from multiple perspectives without clear editorializing.
The HinduIndependentCenter7 days ago 20 rebel Trinamool Lok Sabha MPs seek to merge with Nationalist Citizen Party of IndiaRebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs announced their decision to merge with the Nationalist Citizen Party (NCP) following a meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar stated that the 20 MPs would seek separate seating arrangements and collaborate with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the country's benefit. TMC parliamentary party leader Abhishek Banerjee had previously urged the Speaker not to recognize the group as a legitimate faction of the party. The split within the TMC became apparent when dissenting MPs openly opposed the leadership of Mamata Banerjee.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a political development without overtly favoring any side. It presents statements from both the rebel MPs and the TMC leadership, providing a balanced account of the situation without using biased language or selective sourcing.
Official sources cited
- organisation Rebel TMC MPs meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla
- organisation PTI
Scroll.inIndependentCenter7 days ago Twenty TMC MPs to merge with Nationalist Citizens Party, back NDA: Kakoli GhoshTwenty Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs announced their intention to merge with the Nationalist Citizens Party and support the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in the Lok Sabha. The move follows a meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, where they requested to sit separately. The group claims to represent more than two-thirds of the TMC's parliamentary strength. Rebel TMC MPs have also submitted a letter opposing the recognition of any separate faction within the party.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly biased language or selective sourcing. It reports on political developments involving multiple parties and factions without taking a stance or emphasizing one side over another.
India TodayIndependentCenter7 days agoTrinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, urging him not to recognize any factions or blocs within the TMC. This comes amid internal divisions within the party. Two TMC MPs also visited Birla's residence and submitted a similar request, calling the formation of such groups 'illegal.' Banerjee emphasized that the TMC should be treated as a single political entity in Parliament, with only authorized leaders representing the party.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on formal communications between political figures without taking a stance on the legitimacy of the TMC factions or the broader political implications. It presents facts without editorializing or biased language.
Official sources cited
- government Letter from Abhishek Banerjee to Om Birla
NDTVIndependentCenter7 days agoNDTV reported that a meeting between rebel Trinamool Congress MPs and Union Minister Bhupender Yadav took place at his Delhi residence, with at least 16 MPs present according to a photo. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar mentioned there are at least 22 dissidents within the party.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly biased language or selective sourcing. It reports on the number of rebel MPs and their meeting with a minister but does not take a stance on the political implications or frame the event in a particular ideological light.
Official sources cited
- statement Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar
NDTVIndependentCenter7 days ago No Recognition For Rebel MPs: Abhishek Banerjee To Speaker On Rebel MPs' DemandAbhishek Banerjee, a Trinamool Congress leader, wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla stating that the Trinamool is 'a single, indivisible political party.' This comes amid discussions regarding rebel MPs and their demands.
Bias read (Center): The statement by Abhishek Banerjee is presented factually without overtly biased language or selective sourcing. The article does not take a stance on the issue but reports the communication between a political figure and the Speaker.
Official sources cited
- government Letter from Abhishek Banerjee to Speaker Om Birla
Hindustan TimesIndependentCenter7 days ago TMC is a single party: Abhishek Banerjee writes to LS speaker against recognition to rebel group in parliamentAbhishek Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) National General Secretary, wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla asserting that TMC is a single, indivisible political party and opposing the recognition of a rebel faction within the party. The rebel faction, consisting of at least 19 MPs, plans to seek recognition as a separate group. Banerjee cited the Supreme Court's judgment in the Maharashtra political crisis case to argue that splits are no longer permissible under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.
Bias read (Center): The article presents both perspectives—Banerjee's opposition to recognizing the rebel faction and the rebels' intent to seek recognition—as factual statements without editorializing or biased language. It does not favor one side over the other and provides context from both parties involved.
Official sources cited
- government Letter from Abhishek Banerjee to Lok Sabha Speaker
- court Supreme Court's judgment in the Maharashtra political crisis case
NDTVIndependentCenter7 days ago Trinamool Chief Mamata Banerjee Removes MPs Saayoni Ghosh, Mala Roy From Key Trinamool PostsTrinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has removed MPs Saayoni Ghosh and Mala Roy from their key positions within the party, following growing internal dissent.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on an internal party decision without apparent ideological framing, word-choice, or emphasis that suggests a particular political leaning. It does not include quotes or perspectives that would indicate a slant.
Hindustan TimesIndependentCenter8 days ago Police raid Abhishek Banerjee’s house at 2am to trace aide in land fraud casePolice conducted a search at Abhishek Banerjee's residence in Kolkata's Kalighat area as part of an investigation into a land fraud case involving his personal assistant, Sumit Roy, who is an accused in the case.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual report of a police raid without editorializing, biased language, or one-sided sourcing. It provides a neutral description of the event and the context of the investigation.
Official sources cited
- government Senior official of West Midnapore police
- court Tripura court
Times of IndiaIndependentCenter8 days ago ED breaks locks to enter Abhishek Banerjee's residence during overnight raidA joint police team, including central forces, conducted an overnight search at Trinamool leader Abhishek Banerjee's residence in Kolkata. The operation was linked to a Paschim Medinipur case and involved breaking locks after no response from the occupants. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at the scene amid growing political controversy.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a police raid involving a prominent political figure without overtly favoring any side. It mentions the involvement of central forces and the political context but does not include biased language, one-sided sourcing, or explicit editorializing.
Official sources cited
- government Joint police team
The HinduIndependentCenter8 days ago Signature of rebels Trinamool MPs in public, many actor turned Parliamentarians switch sidesThe article mentions that many rebel Trinamool Congress MPs are first-time parliamentarians, including individuals such as Yusuf Pathan, an ex-cricketer, Saayoni Ghosh, an actress, and Jagadish Verma Basunia from Cooch Behar.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information without apparent ideological framing or biased language. It simply reports on the backgrounds of certain MPs without taking a stance or emphasizing any particular viewpoint.
The HinduIndependentCenter9 days ago Defections, dissent and survival: What’s driving the crisis inside TMCThe Trinamool Congress (TMC) is experiencing a political crisis due to defections, internal dissent, and leadership challenges. The article explores the factors contributing to the unrest within the party, examining power dynamics and potential implications for TMC leader Mamata Banerjee.
Bias read (Center): The article presents an analytical overview of the political situation within the TMC without overtly favoring any particular perspective. It frames the issue as a crisis involving defections and internal dissent but does not exhibit clear ideological bias in its language or sourcing. The focus ison
NDTVIndependentCenter10 days ago "Morally Wrong, Miss You Didi": Trinamool Rebel's Message For Mamata BanerjeeShatabdi Roy, a rebel from the Trinamool Congress, expressed conflicting feelings about her political decision, stating she feels it was correct politically but wrong morally and emotionally.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a direct quote from Shatabdi Roy expressing her personal conflict without editorializing or biased language. It does not favor one side over the other and simply reports her statement.
Hindustan TimesIndependentCenter11 days ago TMC in crisis, Abhishek Banerjee meets Rahul Gandhi to repair ties with CongressTrinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee met with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to discuss strengthening ties between the two parties. The TMC leadership denied rumors of a merger but did not rule out forming an alliance in West Bengal. Discussions included topics such as the INDIA alliance and opposition coordination. These meetings follow recent interactions between TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, marking the first such meeting in five years.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on political meetings and discussions without overtly favoring any side. It presents facts about the meetings and quotes TMC officials without apparent bias. There is no strong framing that suggests a particular ideological leaning.
Official sources cited
- organisation TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee
- organisation Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi
India