20 Trinamool Congress MPs join NCPI, pledge support to NDA

Twenty Lok Sabha members of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) announced they have merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) and will support the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Parliament. The rebels sought a separate seating arrangement in the House and met with Union Minister Bhupender Yadav before approaching Speaker Om Birla.

TMC officials denounced the move. Senior TMC MP Sougata Roy called the merger “ridiculous” and said, “Once you betray the party on whose symbol you were elected, how will you face your constituents?” The BJP framed the defection as evidence of a deepening crisis within the TMC, while stressing that any split must comply with anti‑defection laws and constitutional provisions.