Twenty of the 28 Lok Sabha members of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal have claimed to merge with the Tripura-based Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), triggering significant political developments in West Bengal and at the national level.
The dissident MPs have submitted a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker seeking recognition as a separate group. They stated that they have the support of more than two-thirds of the party’s Lok Sabha members and intend to work with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Speaking on behalf of the dissident group, MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said the group had chosen a new political path through a democratic process. According to her, the decision was taken after extensive deliberations, and the group would now support the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
She also said the group has requested separate seating arrangements in Parliament to formally reflect the new political alignment. If approved, the move could affect both the strength and influence of the TMC in the Lok Sabha.
Following the development, the TMC leadership adopted a firm position. Party leaders said the move amounted to a betrayal of the public mandate and would not be accepted.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra reacted on social media, making allegations against the dissident leaders. She specifically criticized senior MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay, alleging that he had broken the trust of the party and its leadership. Her remarks indicated growing dissatisfaction and anger within the party.
The dispute has now become part of the parliamentary process. While the dissident group has sought separate recognition and seating arrangements from the Lok Sabha Speaker, the TMC leadership has written to the Speaker requesting that the group not be granted recognition.
Political observers say the role of the Lok Sabha Speaker will be significant in the coming days, as the Speaker’s decision could clarify the parliamentary position. However, any final legal and political determination may emerge only after a longer process.
Political analysts have suggested that the dissident MPs’ claim of merger with another political party may also be aimed at avoiding disqualification under the anti-defection law. Under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India, members may receive protection from disqualification if at least two-thirds of a party’s legislators decide to merge with another political party.
The dissident leaders maintain that they possess the required numbers and that their action is in accordance with constitutional provisions. However, the validity of that claim will be determined through parliamentary and judicial processes.
A key aspect of the political dispute is that both sides are preparing to assert themselves as the legitimate TMC. The dissident leaders contend that they have the support of a majority of the party’s MPs and may in future seek rights over the party name and election symbol.
Mamata Banerjee and her supporters have rejected that claim. As a result, the matter could reach the Election Commission and the courts. If the dispute continues, it could lead to new political alignments in West Bengal.
The party with which the TMC MPs have claimed to merge is the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), a registered but unrecognised political party based in Tripura. Its influence has remained limited and it has largely remained outside national political prominence.
The party fielded candidates in some constituencies during the 2023 Tripura Assembly election but did not achieve notable success. Its electoral performance remained weak and it was unable to establish a significant political presence even at the state level.
For that reason, claims of the merger of national-level MPs into the party have attracted attention across political circles.
Some local leaders associated with the NCPI have also expressed surprise over the development. According to reports, several individuals linked to the party were not aware of the development beforehand.
The situation has also raised questions about possible changes to the party’s organisational structure and leadership in the coming days. If a large number of MPs formally become part of the party, NCPI could gain a more significant position in national politics.
The potential division within the TMC could have implications beyond West Bengal. It may affect opposition strategy in the Lok Sabha, the strength of the INDIA alliance, and the numerical position of the NDA.
If the dissident MPs continue to support the NDA, the central government could gain additional strength in Parliament. At the same time, political equations in West Bengal could change for both the ruling party and the opposition.
