New Delhi, Sept. 3 -- Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has granted time till September 22 to rebel TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay, who merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), to file his reply to a disqualification petition moved against him under the Tenth Schedule.

According to a Lok Sabha Secretariat letter dated September 22, Joint Secretary Santosh Kumar informed Bandyopadhyay that his request for an extension of time for three weeks has been acceded to.

The letter states, "With reference to your letter dated September 1 for request of extension of time for 3 weeks i.e. up to September 22 to furnish the reply to the petition dated June 18 made by Abhishek Banerjee, MP and Leader of All India Trinamool Congress in Lok Sabh...