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NEW DELHI: The Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), the little-known political outfit from Tripura, on Monday welcomed the prospect of 20 rebel TMC MPs joining its ranks and signalled its willingness to work alongside the NDA.Shantanu Dey, founder and national organising secretary of the party, said he first learnt about the development through media reports but was hopeful that talks between NCPI and the dissident MPs would take place soon.“I got to know about this from social media and news. I welcome them to hold talks with me. Why won’t I be happy if my party grows? I have heard that the decision was taken by the party president. He has not called me about this yet,” Dey said.“I want to take the party forward. If my party grows, we will be able to work for the country. We support PM Modi and wish to work with the NDA for the nation. Our office registration is in ‘Jago Biswa’ building in Howrah….If Kakoli Di speaks to us, then we will certainly go (to Delhi). I am hopeful that we will talk (NCPI & 20 TMC MPs. We will hold a press meet soon,” he added.The comments come a day after 20 rebel Trinamool Congress MPs informed Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla of their decision to merge with NCPI and sought a separate seating arrangement in Parliament. The dissident camp has also pledged support to the NDA.The rebels claim to have the backing of 20 of the TMC’s 28 Lok Sabha MPs, crossing the two-thirds threshold required under the anti-defection law for a merger with another political party.The move marks the latest escalation in the crisis engulfing the Mamata Banerjee-led party following its defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections. The Mamata camp has challenged the rebels’ claims before the Speaker and argued that the Constitution and anti-defection law do not permit recognition of a separate faction within a political party.A registered but unrecognised political party, NCPI has had a limited electoral presence so far. The outfit contested the 2023 Tripura assembly elections under the slogan “To save your rights, reject political turncoats” and fielded candidates in three constituencies.If the merger is recognised, NCPI could emerge as a 20-member bloc in the Lok Sabha, making it the second-largest constituent within the NDA after the BJP and ahead of allies such as the TDP and JD(U).
