20 TMC MPs Merge with NCPI, Announce Support for PM Modi's Leadership

On Sunday, 20 Lok Sabha MPs from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) declared their merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party (NCPI), a registered but non-recognized political party based in Tripura. MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar submitted a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, announcing their decision to support PM Narendra Modi's leadership and work within the NDA framework. Photos from the meeting with the Speaker showed 17 MPs present. Prior to this, the MPs held discussions with Bengal BJP in-charge and Union Minister Bhupender Yadav.

Rebel MPs Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Shatabdi Roy stated that their faction had already merged with NCPI. They have requested separate seating arrangements in Parliament, citing their two-thirds majority within TMC's Lok Sabha representation. Meanwhile, TMC leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee and Kalyan Banerjee, convened at Mamata Banerjee's residence in Kolkata to strategize their response. Four of TMC's 13 Rajya Sabha MPs have also resigned.

Sudip Bandyopadhyay claimed that the rebel faction would seek recognition of their group and the TMC election symbol 'twin flowers' in court. Abhishek Banerjee has written to the Speaker, urging him not to recognize the rebel faction.

NCPI leader Barjeda Tripura expressed surprise at the merger announcement, stating he was unaware of the development. He had contested the 2023 Tripura Assembly elections but performed poorly.

Key Points

• 20 TMC Lok Sabha MPs merged with NCPI and announced support for PM Modi's leadership.
• MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar submitted a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla regarding the merger.
• Rebel MPs requested separate seating in Parliament, citing their two-thirds majority.
• TMC leaders met at Mamata Banerjee's residence to discuss the situation.
• NCPI leader Barjeda Tripura was unaware of the merger announcement.