Ninety-seven MPs from the Lok Sabha and 46 MPs from the Rajya Sabha have been suspended during the ongoing winter session of Parliament. This is the highest number of MPs suspended in a single session in the history of Parliament. The record number was due to the Opposition’s demand for a statement from the Home Minister over the security breach in Parliament. Commenting on the suspensions, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of attacking Parliament and democracy.
The highest number of MPs suspended from the Lok Sabha was previously 63 (during the Eighth Lok Sabha, on March 15, 1989, when Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister). According to The Hindu archives, the entire Opposition was suspended due to its demand that the government discuss the Thakkar Commission report on the assassination of Indira Gandhi. That evening, Janata Dal leader V.P. Singh spoke to the media and accused the government of acting in a “brazen” fashion.
Twenty-nine MPs from Tamil Nadu were suspended, the highest number across all States, which left just 10 MPs to represent the people of the State in the Lok Sabha for the remaining days of the session (Table 1). Eighteen MPs from Kerala were suspended, leaving just two MPs, and 14 from West Bengal were suspended, leaving just 27 MPs. A lone MP from Puducherry was also on the suspension list, which leaves the Union Territory without any representation. This is the case with Lakshadweep, too.
