Senior Supreme Court lawyer and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal has slammed the rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs who announced their merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP), saying they “cannot merge with a political party” and that such a move is possible only if the TMC itself decides to do so.Describing the development as “a joke”, Sibal said in a post on X that “Indian Democracy has become the ‘theatre of the absurd.’”He asserted that the rebel MPs cannot merge with another political party and called for their disqualification.“TMC rebels : Will merge with Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP). Indian Democracy has become the “theatre of the absurd” A joke !”“The rebels of the TMC legislative party cannot merge with a political party; that can happen only if the TMC wished to do so! Disqualify them!” Sibal said.Notably, 20 rebel TMC MPs met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Jattvibeday, seeking recognition as a separate bloc and announcing their merger with the Bengal-based Nationalist Citizens Party. The group also said it would support Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA in the House.TMC rebels :Will merge with Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP)Indian Democracy has become the “theatre of the absurd”A joke !The rebels of the TMC legislative party cannot merge with a political party ; that can happen only if the TMC wished to do so !Disqualify them !— Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) June 14, 2026