Political Speculation Grows As Rebel TMC Leaders Prepare For NDA Meetings Soon
Rebel TMC MPs likely to attend NDA meetings.
Twenty rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs are likely to participate in National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meetings from next week, sources said, signalling a possible political realignment ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The development comes after a group of TMC lawmakers broke away from the party and sought recognition of their merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). According to sources, the rebel MPs are expected to attend NDA meetings from next Tuesday as members of the breakaway group.
However, their formal political position remains dependent on the decision of Lok Sabha Speaker on their merger petition. The MPs have approached the Speaker seeking recognition of their merger with NCPI, a registered but unrecognised political party based in Howrah. The political shift follows the TMC’s defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections, after which 20 of the party’s 28 Lok Sabha MPs reportedly revolted against the leadership. The move has created a major internal crisis within the party and could have implications for its parliamentary strength and functioning. A leader from the rebel group said their merger petition was currently pending before the Speaker and expressed hope that a decision would be taken soon.
"Our petition about merging with NCPI is pending with the speaker and we are hopeful of a decision being taken soon," the leader said. The growing distance between the rebel MPs and the TMC leadership became visible during the customary all-party meeting held ahead of the Monsoon Session. Rebel MPs Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar attended the meeting after receiving an invitation from Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. Their participation triggered a reaction from opposition parties, which staged a symbolic walkout during the meeting before returning later. The incident highlighted the political tensions surrounding the status of the rebel MPs and their future alignment in Parliament.
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If the Speaker recognises the merger, the breakaway faction would represent the largest internal split in the history of the TMC in Parliament. The MPs would then participate as NCPI members and could formally align themselves with the NDA in parliamentary proceedings. However, if the merger is not recognised, the lawmakers would continue to remain TMC rebels and their participation in NDA-related meetings could face additional political and procedural questions. The Speaker’s decision will therefore play a crucial role in determining their official status.
The expected participation of the rebel MPs in NDA meetings is likely to intensify the political challenge facing the TMC leadership. It could also influence parliamentary calculations during the Monsoon Session, where issues involving government policies, opposition coordination and legislative debates are expected to dominate proceedings. The developments mark a significant moment in West Bengal politics, with the future of the rebel faction and its relationship with the NDA depending on legal recognition and further political negotiations.
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