Rebel Trinamool Congress MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia says 17 of the 20 dissident MPs will move to the BJP around Durga Puja. The statement is contested by fellow rebels and the BJP itself.

  • Basunia alleges 17 NCPI MPs will switch to BJP.
  • Other rebel MPs reject the collective decision.
  • BJP distances itself from the claim.

West Bengal rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and Cooch Behar MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia announced on Monday that 17 of the 20 Lok Sabha members aligned with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) would join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) before or after Durga Puja. Fellow dissenters quickly disputed the claim, stating no group consensus existed.

The BJP also distanced itself from the allegation. West Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya warned that a desire to join does not guarantee acceptance. This comes amid ongoing legal battles over the status of the 20 MPs who defected from the TMC after its May assembly defeat and pledged support to the BJP‑led NDA.

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Historical Background

NCPI was conceived in July 2022 and formally registered in 2023. In June 2022, 20 of the 27 TMC Lok Sabha MPs left the party, merged with NCPI, and announced support for the BJP‑led coalition. They argued that the two‑thirds provision of the anti‑defection law applied, making the merger legally valid.

However, Lok Sabha records still list the MPs as TMC members, and the Speaker Om Birla has issued notices requiring their response to disqualification petitions. The deadline was extended to 22 September, while the Supreme Court has also taken up the matter.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that if Basunia’s claim materialises, the BJP could secure a sizable bloc of MPs from a state traditionally dominated by the TMC, reshaping the power dynamics ahead of the next state elections and setting a new precedent for interpreting the anti‑defection law.

"The NCPI has often been used as a tactical vehicle for individual political ambitions rather than a genuine ideological platform," noted a senior political analyst.
Did You Know?: In the 2021 West Bengal assembly elections, the TMC won all 213 seats, marking the largest single‑party victory in Indian electoral history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Has the BJP officially confirmed any of the MPs’ entry?

A: No, the BJP has publicly stated it has no information about such a move.

Q2: Are the disqualification proceedings against the 20 MPs still pending?

A: Yes, both the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Supreme Court are still reviewing the petitions.