TMC Rebel MPs To Merge With Nationalist Citizens Party, Support NDA

A major political development is unfolding in India as a significant rebel faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has announced its intention to merge with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) and extend support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). This was confirmed by rebel TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who is at the forefront of this dissident movement. The NDTV article, published on June 14, 2026, highlights this crucial shift. The rebel group, which initially claimed the support of around 19-20 Members of Parliament (MPs), has now increased its asserted strength to 22 Lok Sabha MPs. This number is particularly significant as it surpasses the two-thirds majority required (19 MPs out of TMC's 28 Lok Sabha members) to avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law, allowing them to legally form a separate parliamentary bloc or merge with another party. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar stated that the dissident MPs are scheduled to meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday (June 15, 2026) to formally seek recognition as a distinct parliamentary group. This move aims to solidify their new political identity and operational framework within the Parliament. Several reports indicate that prominent TMC leaders, including veteran MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay, have formally aligned with the dissident faction. Bandyopadhyay, a long-time confidante of Mamata Banerjee, has endorsed a proposal for Mamata Banerjee to continue in an advisory role for the party, signaling a desire to restructure the party's leadership rather than a complete breakaway from the TMC's foundational ideology. The Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), with which the rebel faction intends to merge, is described as a relatively lesser-known, Bengali-oriented political party primarily based in Tripura, with a presence in other Northeastern states and Bengal. This merger would provide the rebel MPs with a new party platform to formally operate as a distinct political entity in Parliament. The decision to support the NDA is a critical aspect of this development, as it could potentially strengthen the central ruling alliance's numbers in Parliament and further challenge the Trinamool Congress, particularly after its performance in the recent West Bengal Assembly elections. This internal turmoil within the TMC has been ongoing, with reports of growing dissent and resignations following the party's electoral defeat in West Bengal. However, the path for the rebel faction is not without legal and political complexities. Constitutional experts have questioned the rebel MPs' plan to seek 'real TMC' status from the Lok Sabha Speaker, emphasizing that the Election Commission of India, not the Speaker, holds the authority to decide on the status of a political party. This suggests that the rebel faction might face challenges in their bid for recognition and could be advised to approach the Election Commission with evidence of majority support within the parliamentary party. Meanwhile, Abhishek Banerjee, a key figure in the loyalist TMC faction, has reportedly urged the Speaker not to recognize the rebel MPs as a separate group, indicating a strong counter-move from the party leadership to prevent the split. The unfolding events are closely watched as they have significant implications for the political landscape of West Bengal and the dynamics within the Lok Sabha. The crisis has led to organizational reshuffles within the TMC, with leaders perceived to be backing the rebels being removed from key positions. The inclusion of high-profile MPs like Sudip Bandyopadhyay and others such as Saayoni Ghosh, Dev (Deepak Adhikari), and Yusuf Pathan, as identified in various reports, further underscores the gravity of the internal challenge faced by Mamata Banerjee's leadership. This development marks a crucial moment for the Trinamool Congress, which has been grappling with internal dissent since the Assembly elections. The formal announcement of a merger and allegiance to the NDA signifies a deepening crisis that could reshape political alignments in West Bengal and potentially impact national politics.

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