TMC Refuses to Nominate Members to JPC on PM, CMs Removal Bill; INDIA Bloc Yet to Decide

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday announced that it will not nominate any members to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) formed to scrutinise three contentious bills that seek to disqualify the prime minister, chief ministers, and ministers if they are arrested and held in custody for 30 consecutive days on serious charges.

The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, along with the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2025, was introduced in both Houses of Parliament this week and subsequently referred to a JPC comprising 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha.

In a statement, the Mamata Banerjee-led party called the JPC exercise a “farce” and reiterated its opposition to the amendment at the stage of introduction. “We oppose the 130th Constitution Amendment Bill at the stage of introduction, and in our view, the JPC is a farce. Therefore, we are not nominating anyone from AITC,” the party said.

However, the TMC’s decision has not found favour with several INDIA bloc partners, who argue that participation in the JPC is essential to register dissent. A senior Congress leader told that the party would hold consultations with other Opposition members before taking a final call. “Though the TMC wanted the Opposition to boycott the JPC, there was a dominant view that the government would bulldoze the bill without any dissenting voices. It is important to place our views and oppose the draconian bill tooth and nail,” the leader said.

According to sources, most INDIA bloc constituents including the DMK, Samajwadi Party, RJD, and Shiv Sena (UBT) are in favour of sending representatives to the committee. The Congress is likely to nominate at least four members. Opposition leaders also expressed concern that if the TMC’s seats remain vacant, the ruling NDA may fill them, strengthening its position on the panel.

Highlighting the importance of dissent notes, RSP MP N K Premachandran cited the Supreme Court’s consideration of opposition views on the Waqf Bill JPC. “If the Opposition boycotts the JPC, the government will have smooth sailing,” he warned.

The constitutional amendment bill requires the support of at least two-thirds of members in both Houses of Parliament to pass. The ruling alliance, however, does not currently command such numbers on its own, leaving the legislation’s fate uncertain.