Two Phone Calls, One 'Lesson' Learnt: How Modi Govt Got TMC Support To Impeach Justice Varma

Last Updated:June 23, 2025, 12:28 IST

Sources indicate that Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, known for his ability to bridge gaps between the treasury and opposition benches, reached out to the TMC.

Sources say Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who is known for his ability to blur the lines of treasury and opposition benches, reached out to the TMC. (Image: PTI)

As the Monsoon session of Parliament approaches on 21st July, anticipated to be tumultuous, the Narendra Modi government has seemingly achieved a discreet victory. It appears to have secured the support of India’s third largest opposition party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), in principle, for the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma. This move follows the discovery of stacks of currency notes in Varma’s Lutyens bungalow after a fire call.

Sources indicate that Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, known for his ability to bridge gaps between the treasury and opposition benches, reached out to the TMC. Having learnt a ‘lesson’ from a previous unilateral announcement involving TMC MP Yusuf Pathan, which necessitated contacting TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee, Rijiju opted to directly seek Banerjee’s cooperation this time. Rijiju, a young yet influential minister in the Modi cabinet, also engaged with TMC’s Sudip Bandopadhyay, the leader of parliamentary party in Lok Sabha.

Despite grievances over the Modi government’s disregard for repeated TMC demands, including a special parliament session for Operation Sindoor, sources tell News18 that the TMC leadership has promised support for Justice Varma’s removal. In late May, TMC MPs gathered in the central hall of Parliament to sign a letter to Prime Minister Modi with similar demands. However, despite these issues, the TMC leadership has reportedly agreed to back the impeachment.

The Modi government believes there is substantial evidence to impeach the former Delhi High Court judge, who is now transferred to the Allahabad High Court, and the motion is likely to be introduced in the Monsoon session. Although the constitution does not explicitly use the term ‘impeachment,’ it is commonly used to describe proceedings under Article 124 (for removing a Supreme Court judge) and Article 218 (for removing a high court judge). The government is keen on securing opposition support because the removal motion requires adoption by at least two-thirds of the members present and voting in each house of parliament, a majority the BJP-led NDA currently lacks.

For now, the recent ‘lesson’ has seemingly worked in the Centre’s favour, securing support from India’s third largest opposition party.

News politics Two Phone Calls, One 'Lesson' Learnt: How Modi Govt Got TMC Support To Impeach Justice Varma