TMC MPs accuse Centre of bringing new Bills to topple state governments

Trinamool Congress MPs on Wednesday (August 20) accused the central government of bringing new bills to allow the CBI and ED to "directly topple" state governments.

The remarks came as the government is planning to introduce three bills in Parliament for the removal of a prime minister, a union minister, a chief minister, or a minister of a state or Union Territory when arrested or detained on serious criminal charges for 30 days in a row.

Also Read: Centre proposes 3 Bills to sack PM, CMs if arrested for 30 days

Three key bills

If any one of them is arrested and detained in custody for consecutive 30 days for offences that attract a jail term of at least five years, they will lose their job on the 31st day.

These bills are the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill 2025, the Constitution (One Hundred And Thirtieth Amendment) Bill 2025, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2025.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will also move a motion in the Lok Sabha to refer these three bills to a Joint Committee of Parliament.

TMC slams govt

Flaying the bills, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale charged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are looking for "new tricks" to topple state governments.

In a post on X, Gokhale charged, "When vote-chori is exposed, Modi-Shah looking for new tricks. New Bill being brought today to allow CBI-ED to directly topple state govts for the BJP."

"A person is a criminal only when convicted by a court of law. Until then, they're an "accused". You can't remove a CM/Minister on mere accusation. Arrest by Modi-Shah's Central Agencies is not proof of guilt," he said.

"Interesting fact: In the last 11 years, zero arrests of any Union/State ministers of BJP. All arrests only of Opposition leaders," he added.

Also Read: TMC parliamentary party shake-up: Kalyan out after Mamata’s rebuke over Mahua spat

'Bypassing federal structure'

TMC Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra said that the bill bypasses both the federal structure and the judiciary.

"Opposition predictions come true - Constitution being changed by BJP with only 240 MPs. New bill bypasses both federal structure & judiciary - Union govt can use ED, CBI to arrest elected opposition CM on fake charges and sack them without being proven guilty by a court," she said in a post on X.

In a post on X late on Tuesday night (August 19), TMC Rajya Sabha Leader Derek O'Brien wrote, "In the dead of night, more stunts from the shaky 239-seat Modi coalition as they look for more ways to mock and disrupt parliament."

(With agency inputs)