Samajwadi Party spokesperson Udaiveer Singh on Tuesday accused Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla of functioning at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s behest, as reports emerged that a group of rebel All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs were preparing to meet the Speaker — a move widely seen as a formal step toward backing the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Samajwadi Party's Charge Against the Speaker

Speaking to reporters, Udaiveer Singh said: 'He is the BJP's Speaker. The Speaker has no faith in impartiality. Everyone knows that he acts according to the signals he receives. These Speakers have not even upheld constitutional norms. I believe history will count them among the worst Speakers. That is why no one expects anything from them. They will act according to the BJP's directions.'

The remarks reflect growing Opposition frustration with the conduct of the lower house's presiding officer, a charge the BJP and the Speaker's office have not publicly addressed in response to this specific allegation.

The Rebel TMC MPs and the NDA Signal

The immediate trigger for the controversy was a claim by senior Trinamool Congress MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who reportedly stated that nearly 20 Lok Sabha MPs had decided to extend support to the NDA and had communicated their position to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. If confirmed, this would mark the first major fracture in the party's parliamentary wing since the Trinamool was founded.

The Trinamool Congress currently holds 28 Lok Sabha seats, with one vacancy following the death of Basirhat MP Haji Nurul Islam. A bloc of 20 dissident MPs breaking away would effectively hollow out the party's parliamentary presence.

Cracks That Started in the Bengal Assembly

This comes amid wider internal turbulence that has gripped the Trinamool following its West Bengal Assembly election setback. Reportedly, 58 of the party's 80 MLAs defied the party high command's directive to install veteran leader Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of the Opposition in the state legislature, instead electing MLA Ritabrata Banerjee to the post. The episode signalled deepening organisational cracks well before the parliamentary rebellion surfaced.

The Timing: Mamata in Delhi for INDIA Bloc Meet

Notably, the parliamentary dissent erupted on Monday — the very day TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee was in New Delhi attending an INDIA bloc conclave aimed at charting a pan-India strategy against the BJP. Critics argue the timing was not coincidental, suggesting the dissident move was designed to maximise political pressure on the party leadership at its most exposed moment.

What Happens Next

The formal meeting of rebel MPs with Speaker Birla, if it takes place, could trigger proceedings under the anti-defection law — though outcomes would depend on whether the group constitutes a recognised split under the Tenth Schedule. Legal and constitutional experts are likely to scrutinise any formal communication submitted to the Speaker's office. All eyes are now on whether Mamata Banerjee can contain the rebellion before it reaches a point of no return.