TMC Rebel MPs Change Sides, Merge with New Party and Support NDA

In a major political development, 19 rebel MPs of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have announced their merger with the 'Nationalist Citizen Party' and declared support to the NDA.

The rebel MPs, including prominent faces like Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, and Shatabdi Roy, met Union Minister Bhupender Yadav at his residence in Delhi. Later, they also met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar claimed that these 19 MPs represent more than two-thirds of TMC’s strength in the Lok Sabha. She said their group has merged with the Nationalist Citizen Party and will now work with the NDA under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

Meanwhile, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee wrote a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla requesting that the rebel group should not be given any recognition. He asserted that only the official TMC leadership and whip should be acknowledged in the House.

West Bengal Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari claimed that TMC would disintegrate within a month. He accused the party of arrogance, corruption, and high-handedness, saying many leaders are now looking for an alternative path.

The development has created a huge political storm in West Bengal. The rebel MPs have demanded recognition as a separate group in the Lok Sabha. The matter is likely to see further legal and political battles in the coming days.