At least 20 rebel MPs from the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and informed him that they had merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). If approved, the move could significantly alter the political landscape and is being described as one of the biggest defections in India's parliamentary history.
Merger under review
The proposed merger is currently under review by the Speaker. According to Lok Sabha sources, Om Birla will verify the signatures and documents submitted by the 20 MPs before taking a final decision.
Interestingly, the NCPI currently has no MPs or MLAs anywhere in the country. However, if the merger is approved, the party would emerge as the second-largest constituent of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Lok Sabha and become the fifth-largest party in the House overall.
About the NCPI
The Nationalist Citizens Party of India was registered with the Election Commission as a Registered Unrecognised Political Party (RUPP) on January 20, 2023, just weeks before the Tripura Assembly elections.
Although the party is registered in West Bengal, it chose Tripura as the starting point for its electoral journey. Election Commission records show that the party received total donations of just Rs 1.13 lakh.
RSS link and founder's reaction
One of the founding members of the NCPI is Sujit Dey, a social worker and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker, according to reports.
Reacting to news of the merger, Dey expressed dissatisfaction and surprise over the development.
"Our party fought fiercely against the TMC on the ground during the Tripura Assembly elections," he said in a telephonic conversation with India Today.
The development has sparked political debate, as a party with virtually no parliamentary presence could suddenly become one of the largest groups in the Lok Sabha if the merger receives official approval.
