TMC faces a recurring issue as nearly half of its MLAs abstain on the final day of the budget session, despite a whip. The party thinks that rigorous action would work this time.
As Trinamool Congress president and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee returns from her visit to London’s pleasant climate, a pressing issue awaits her: addressing the indiscipline among party MLAs.
The TMC has initiated action by issuing notices to over 100 of its 220 MLAs who were absent on the last day of the Budget Session, which concluded on March 20. A whip had been issued for both March 19 and 20, but it seemed to have been effective only on the first day, before Mamata left for her foreign tour. With the Chief Minister absent, attendance dwindled on March 20.
The TMC leadership acknowledged concerns over MLAs disregarding requests to attend sessions regularly. A party leader admitted, “Nobody cares.” The situation worsened when the TMC Legislative Party reviewed the attendance register for March 20 and discovered that several MLAs who had signed in had not actually attended the session. A senior MLA remarked that some of these leaders were now insisting they had been present, even describing the proceedings in detail.
According to a senior legislator, only about 60 TMC MLAs were actually present throughout the session on March 20. The party was fortunate that the BJP staged a walkout, as their presence and a request for a vote on finance bills could have resulted in a loss. Failing to pass a finance bill is technically regarded as a vote of no-confidence against the government.
TMC Chief Whip Nirmal Ghosh has reportedly requested the Speaker’s office to provide a final list of absent MLAs. A meeting with Mamata Banerjee is scheduled for Saturday to discuss the issue, though disciplinary action might be delayed by a few days, offering some respite to the absent MLAs.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay stated that he had asked Ghosh for a report explaining the large number of absentees despite the whip. The matter will be reviewed by the party’s disciplinary committee, which will decide on appropriate actions after receiving Ghosh’s report.
A senior TMC leader indicated that with upcoming festivals such as Eid, Basanti Puja, and Ram Navami, the leadership might only make a final decision in early April after consulting the Chief Minister.
Some MLAs have already submitted explanations for their absence, citing reasons such as family obligations, party responsibilities, or illness. North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha stated that he had informed the party in advance about his family responsibilities. Beleghata MLA Paresh Paul explained that he was seriously ill and bedridden throughout the Budget Session. Newly elected Sitai MLA Sangita Basunia recounted that she had fallen at the Cooch Behar platform on March 16 and later attended a Panchayat Samiti meeting on March 19, where a new sabhapati was to be elected.
Despite these justifications, the party remains skeptical. In September 2023, facing a similar issue of absentee MLAs, the TMC implemented two attendance registers—one in the office of the Parliamentary Affairs Minister and another in the Chief Whip’s room. It also announced that a weekly attendance report would be sent to Mamata Banerjee. The BJP had mocked this move, calling it evidence of the TMC’s “paranoia” about MLA loyalty.
Over the past two years, these attendance registers have reportedly lost their significance. Many MLAs sign in the morning and then leave, as seen on March 20. BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul commented that the absence of ruling party MLAs was unsurprising, accusing them of prioritizing financial gains over state development and ignoring party leadership directives.
The TMC now faces a crucial challenge with elections less than a year away, making control over its MLAs increasingly uncertain. In 2023, the party dealt with around 50 absentee MLAs—a number that has now doubled, adding to the leadership’s concerns.
