Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will hear the defected TMC MPs as well as the faction led by Mamata Banerjee before deciding on giving recognition to the breakaway faction.

An email to the Banerjee-led faction — which is now reduced to a rump — seeking its view.  Sources from Parliament said Birla is likely to seek legal opinion on the defected leaders’ demand to be recognised as a separate group after a proposed merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI).