Trinamool, TDP fight over room in parliament

Parliamentarians from the Trinamool Congress and the TDP were Tuesday involved in a row over office space in the parliament building.

Trinamool parliamentarians forcibly removed a board in front of the Telugu Desam Party office in the building, saying it has been allotted to them, and then occupied the room.

"The speaker's office has directed us to take room No.5. We have 46 MPs but we didn't have any place to sit. The TDP has been allotted a room on the third floor," said Trinamool Lok Sabha member Sudip Bandopadhyay.

It was after the TDP parliamentarians found that their nameplates were removed from room No.5 that the scuffle began. They tried to put up the signboard again and refused to vacate the room.

Bandyopadhyay and fellow parliamentarian Sultan Ahmed were seen outside room No.5 arguing with officials and TDP lawmakers.

Both the regional parties lashed out at each other.

TDP members called it "uncultured behaviour".

"It is an uncultured behaviour. We will complain about it," said Y.S. Chowdary, a Rajya Sabha member from Andhra Pradesh.

Trinamool said the TDP found it hard to let go the room because as they were "sentimental" about it.

Trinamool has 34 members in the Lok Sabha and 12 in the Rajya Sabha, while the TDP has 18 members in the lower house and six in the upper house.

TDP Lok Sabha member Narayana Rao said :"We have been occupying the room for the last 30 years. A few nameplates were removed. It is not democratic."