Kolkata, June 19 -- Following the claims of rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs of merging with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), party MP Saugata Roy on Thursday slammed the party defection group, terming the act as an "effort to avoid the anti-defection law."

Speaking to ANI, Roy asserted that the rebels are "trying for a merger" with an unknown party who avoid the anti-defection law.

"This is an effort to avoid the anti-defection law, as the law can only be waived in case of a merger. So, they are trying for a merger with an unknown party who avoid the anti-defection law, because there is no scope for a split in the anti-defection law."

When asked about Abhishek Banerjee meeting Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in Delhi today...