TMC Rebels' Merger Claim Sparks Fresh Controversy as NCPI Leader Says He Learned of Move Through Media

A political storm has erupted after 20 rebel TMC Members of Parliament claimed to have merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India. The controversy deepened when NCPI founder Shantanu De revealed that he learned about the alleged merger through media reports. The development has triggered legal, constitutional and political questions across West Bengal and New Delhi.

A dramatic twist has emerged in the political controversy surrounding the claim by 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) Members of Parliament that they have merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). While the legislators reportedly met the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and sought recognition as a separate group, the leadership of the party they claim to have joined has expressed surprise over the development.

Shantanu De, Founder and National Organisation Secretary of the NCPI, stated that he first learned about the alleged merger through news reports and social media rather than through any formal communication from the lawmakers involved.

Speaking on the issue, De said he became aware of the development through news channels, social media platforms, and information shared by leaders within his party. According to him, he first received information about the matter on the previous evening.

De made it clear that no formal discussions have yet taken place between him and the rebel Members of Parliament. However, he welcomed the possibility of dialogue and said he was open to discussions regarding the matter. He noted that NCPI is a relatively small political party and that any expansion would naturally be viewed positively. At the same time, he emphasized that any such process must follow constitutional provisions and established procedures.

According to De, NCPI President Shivli Gundu has not yet discussed the matter with him. He said he had not received any phone call from the party president regarding the reported merger but added that he expected such communication because it would be an official responsibility.

The political significance of the controversy has been heightened by NCPI's position on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). De openly declared that his party supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

He stated that the BJP's vision is correct and argued that India has undergone significant transformation since Modi became Prime Minister. Praising the government's work, De said that his party supports Modi and the BJP wholeheartedly.

The merger claim has drawn further attention because NCPI is a relatively new political organisation. Registered in 2023, the party has remained largely unknown in national politics. Its registered office is located in the Sankrail area of Howrah, while the organisation has also conducted political activities in Tripura. De himself acknowledged that limited resources and financial constraints have restricted the party's expansion.

Meanwhile, the deployment of security personnel outside the NCPI office in Howrah has become a subject of discussion. Party leaders are preparing to hold a press conference in the coming days to present their official position on the entire matter.

The controversy now raises a critical question: whether the claim made by the 20 Members of Parliament can withstand legal and constitutional scrutiny, or whether it represents a new political strategy aimed at increasing pressure within West Bengal's volatile political landscape. For now, the issue remains at the centre of political discussions from West Bengal to New Delhi, with its implications being closely watched across the country's political spectrum.