In a significant political manoeuvre, as many as 20 MPs previously associated with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have declared the formation of a separate bloc, identifying themselves as the "real TMC." This faction has officially merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), an unrecognised regional political party which was registered with the Election Commission of India in early 2023.

Nationalist Citizens Party of India: Origin, founder and current status

The NCPI was launched as the National Citizens Party of India in Tripura in 2015 by a Kolkata-based Shiuli Kundu. Later, the party registered itself as the Nationalist Citizens Party of India on February 2, 2023, in Sankrail, Howrah district, with a symbol of “pen nib with seven rays”, according to data from the Election Commission. It has recently gained attention as 20 rebel Members of Parliament from the TMC announced their merger with the party.

The lesser-known political party fielded four candidates in the 2023 Tripura assembly elections and had the slogan “Reject political turncoats to save your rights.” Records indicate that the NCPI contested in three seats: Chawamanu, Ambassa, and Kailashahar. Its candidates finished either behind NOTA or secured only a few more votes.

NCPI’s registered address is in Howrah’s Sankrail and its president is Shiuli Kundu, who identifies as an advocate practising in the Calcutta High Court.

Prominent TMC rebels, such as Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, have also voiced their intent to work with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA in the national interest. The seniormost rebel MP, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, indicated plans to seek recognition as TMC once the Parliament sessions resume, claiming a two-thirds majority. The merger comes in the wake of TMC’s electoral challenges.

Bypassing the anti-defection law

The decision by the rebels to merge with a registered regional political party as a cohesive bloc rather than form a separate bloc within the Trinamool Congress was to avoid any legal complications under the anti-defection law.

The law states that when two-thirds of the legislators of a political party decide to merge with another party, neither those who join the new party nor the ones who stay with the original party face disqualification.