Nationalist Citizens Party of India faces internal rift over BJP alliance

Internal tensions have emerged within the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) following its recent induction of 20 rebel MPs from the Trinamool Congress. Three Muslim Lok Sabha MPs—Abu Taher Khan, Khalilur Rahman, and Yusuf Pathan—have reportedly distanced themselves from the party's close association with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), stating they "won't go with the BJP." The MPs expressed concerns that an alliance with the BJP could negatively impact their support base among Muslim voters.

Simultaneously, NCPI MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar sparked political speculation following a Facebook post that she later claimed was the result of a "typing mistake." Her original post, which read, "I made so many mistakes in recognising people. One life is ruined," was edited within 40 minutes to read, "I made so many mistakes in recognising people for forty years."

The developments have drawn criticism from the Trinamool Congress, with leaders accusing the former members of misleading voters and claiming the NCPI is effectively acting as a "B-team" for the BJP.