Legal Perspectives on TMC Rebels' Merger with NCP(I) and Anti-Defection Law
Senior lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani addressed the legal issues surrounding the merger of TMC rebel MPs with NCP(I). He stated that under the anti-defection law, a merger supported by two-thirds of legislators is legally valid and provides protection from disqualification. However, he clarified that once merged, rebels cannot claim TMC's party identity or symbol. Questions remain about the interpretation of the two-thirds rule, the validity of partial mergers, and whether the Election Commission or party structures decide ownership, indicating potential legal challenges ahead.