The Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) founder, Shantanu Dey, mentioned that his party members will discuss the merger proposal from Trinamool Congress MPs further due to existing ‘sticking points.’ Dey highlighted that while his party shares a similar ideology with the BJP and NDA, making them ‘natural allies,’ the assimilation of Trinamool MPs into NCPI is not yet finalized. Some members have expressed concerns and are seeking more discussions.
Dey expressed surprise at the unilateral decision made by the party president without consulting senior party colleagues or himself before announcing the merger proposal. He emphasized the need for engaging with BJP and NDA leaders to collaborate and enhance the party’s influence on people’s lives.
Following a meeting where Trinamool MPs informed Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla about their merger with NCPI and their intention to sit as a separate bloc in the House, the dissident Trinamool MPs have pledged their support to the NDA. Twenty out of the 28 Trinamool members in Lok Sabha have joined the rebel camp and merged with the new party to avoid the anti-defection law’s implications and potential disqualification.
NCPI, a registered but unrecognized political party with limited on-ground presence, contested the 2023 Assembly election advocating to ‘save your rights, reject political turncoats’ and fielded candidates in a few constituencies. With the merger of NCPI and the rebel Trinamool MPs’ separate bloc, NCPI could become the second-largest constituent in the NDA, alongside allies JD(U) and TDP, who have 12 and 16 MPs respectively.
