What Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari's meeting with NCPI MPs in Delhi means for NDA
This gathering signals a potential strengthening of ties between the NCPI and the BJP-led NDA, amidst ongoing political realignments and a pending decision on the validity of NCPI MPs
Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) MPs met with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in Delhi for an administrative meeting focused on constituency development, signaling potential closer ties with the BJP-led NDA. The session was positively received, with assurances of administrative support for MPs' work, even from those previously hesitant to align with the NDA. This development occurs in the backdrop of NCPI's recent merger with a faction of TMC MPs and the anticipation of a decision from the Lok Sabha speaker regarding their status under anti-defection laws.
Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) MPs met with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in Delhi for an administrative meeting focused on constituency development, signaling potential closer ties with the BJP-led NDA. The session was positively received, with assurances of administrative support for MPs' work, even from those previously hesitant to align with the NDA. This development occurs in the backdrop of NCPI's recent merger with a faction of TMC MPs and the anticipation of a decision from the Lok Sabha speaker regarding their status under anti-defection laws.
Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) MPs met with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in Delhi for an administrative meeting focused on constituency development, signaling potential closer ties with the BJP-led NDA. The session was positively received, with assurances of administrative support for MPs' work, even from those previously hesitant to align with the NDA. This development occurs in the backdrop of NCPI's recent merger with a faction of TMC MPs and the anticipation of a decision from the Lok Sabha speaker regarding their status under anti-defection laws.
Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) MPs attended a meeting called by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in Delhi on Tuesday. Though the one-hour meeting was administrative in nature, pertaining to pressing issues related to their constituencies, it indicates strengthened ties between the NCPI and the BJP-led NDA.
“It was a very good meeting. After the Monsoon session of the Parliament ends, we will have a meeting with the CM at Nabanna (the state secretariat). We will submit our proposals there,” said MP Shatabdi Roy.
Pointing out the meeting ended on a positive note, MP Sudip Bandhopadhyay said the CM will hold a meeting with MPs and MLAs to discuss measures to prevent attacks on Trinamool workers.
MP June Malliah also echoed what other Parliamentarians said, pointing out that the meeting was fruitful. “If there is any hiccup, the CM is always there and he has promised all NCPI MPs that we should not be facing any kind of problems while working in our constituencies. And where administrative help is required, he is always there to support us,” she said.
This comes a week after most of the NCPI MPs attended last week’s ‘Mangal Milan’ meeting in Delhi where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were present. Three Lok Sabha MPs from Murshidabad region Yusuf Pathan, Abu Taher Khan and Khalilur Rahaman had stayed away from ‘Mangal Milan’ last week as they do not support the NDA. However, they attended Tuesday’s meeting chaired by Adhikari as it was administrative in nature.
The three MPs said they will attend meetings related to the development of their constituencies or else they will lag behind in development. “We will not do anything which is against the interests of people, particularly against the welfare of the minority community in Murshidabad district, from where we won,” said Abu Taher Khan.
“They came to put forward their views to Suvendu Adhikari, which the CM has agreed to,” explained Shatabdi Roy, stating that everyone is allowed to place their views.
Twenty TMC MPs merged with the NCPI, which is an ally of the NDA in Parliament. The MPs are still awaiting a response by Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla who is yet to decide on their validity. The Mamata Banerjee faction headed by Abhishek Banerjee has approached Birla to seek their disqualification under the anti-defection law and reconsider their separate seating arrangements from the TMC.
A total of 28 MPs had won on a TMC ticket but differences arose after the Assembly election results with Mamata losing to the BJP after three terms as CM.