Our Correspondent / New Delhi
In a move set to trigger a political storm on the eve of the Monsoon Session, the Lok Sabha Secretariat has re-allotted seats of 28Members of Parliament, with Trinamool Congress alleging that all 20 MPs identified by the party’s leadership as part of its rebel camp have been accommodated ahead of its top parliamentary faces, including Abhishek Banerjee.
The revised seating arrangement has seen TMC Parliamentary Party leader Abhishek Banerjee shifted from Seat No. 354 to 281, while eight other senior MPs—Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Mahua Moitra, Sougata Ray, Kalyan Banerjee, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Satabdi Roy, Prasun Banerjee and Mala Roy—have also been reassigned.
The timing of the order has raised eyebrows in political circles. The reshuffle comes at a time when the Trinamool Congress is battling internal dissidence, with nearly 20 MPs reportedly at odds with the party’s central leadership.
Party insiders said the new seating plan effectively creates a visual and political distinction inside the House, with the alleged rebel MPs occupying seats ahead of the party’s officially designated leadership. “This is not merely an administrative exercise; it alters the optics of who represents the party in Parliament,” a senior TMC functionary said.
The development assumes significance as Abhishek Banerjee has increasingly emerged as the principal face of the party in Parliament and is expected to spearhead the Opposition’s offensive during the Monsoon Session. The relocation of senior TMC leaders has therefore prompted questions over whether established parliamentary conventions have been overlooked.
While the Lok Sabha Secretariat has maintained silence on the criteria used for the re-allotment, parliamentary observers note that seating arrangements in the House often carry symbolic and political weight, particularly when they concern floor leaders and senior members.
With the Monsoon Session commencing shortly, the seat reshuffle threatens to become the first flashpoint of the session, with the Trinamool Congress likely to seek answers from the Chair and the Lok Sabha Secretariat.