MAITC writes to Rajya Sabha Chairman over exclusion from parliamentary panel chairs
The Trinamool Congress has protested its exclusion from chairing any of the eight Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees. Party leader Derek O’Brien argued that the move undermines parliamentary scrutiny and reflects a broader trend of weakening democratic institutions.
Why it matters
The dispute underscores concerns regarding the role of opposition parties in parliamentary oversight and the functioning of legislative committees.
The Mamata All India Trinamool Congress (MAITC) faction, which backs former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee , on Saturday (October 3, 2026) wrote to Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan to protest its exclusion from the chairpersonship of any of the eight Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees under the Upper House’s jurisdiction.
In his letter, dated October 3, 2026, the party’s Rajya Sabha leader Derek O’Brien, referring to the latest Parliamentary Bulletin announcing the reconstitution of the committees for 2026-27, noted that the Trinamool Congress remains the third-largest party in the Rajya Sabha. The Trinamool Congress, he said, had chaired a committee in both 2024-25 and 2025-26, but has now been denied any chairpersonship.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in