Twenty Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha members have merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) and pledged support to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) [1].
This mass defection represents a significant blow to the TMC's legislative strength in the Lok Sabha. By merging with another party rather than defecting individually, the lawmakers aim to bypass India's strict anti-defection laws that would otherwise disqualify them from their seats [1], [2].
The group is led by Sudip Bandyopadhyay [1]. The decision to join the NCPI, a lesser-known entity, rather than a direct merger with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is seen as a strategic move to facilitate their alignment with the BJP-led NDA [3].
Lawmaker Mala Roy said the group will work together following the shift [4]. The move has drawn sharp criticism from opposing political figures, including Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit, who said he reacted to the rebellion [5].
The shift alters the numerical balance within the lower house of Parliament. The NCPI now gains a substantial bloc of experienced legislators, while the TMC loses 20 [1] of its representatives to the NDA-aligned camp [2].
“Twenty Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha members have merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India”
This strategic merger allows rebel MPs to shift their political allegiance to the NDA without losing their parliamentary seats. By utilizing the legal loophole of a party merger, the lawmakers avoid the disqualification triggered by individual floor-crossing, effectively weakening the TMC's opposition leverage while strengthening the BJP-led coalition's majority in the Lok Sabha.
