NDA Mangal Milan meet: NCPI MPs join alliance session for first time
Synopsis
For the first time, three former Trinamool Congress MPs — now NCPI legislators — sat alongside NDA allies at the Mangal Milan parliamentary strategy session. The meeting, held a day after the anti-cheating Bill's introduction in the Lok Sabha, signals both a widening of Modi's alliance bloc and a coordinated push to pass contentious legislation amid Opposition pressure.
Key Takeaways
The NDA Mangal Milan meeting was held at the Parliament Library Building on 29 July 2025 .
NCPI MPs Kakoli Ghosh, Shatabdi Roy, and Saayoni Ghosh — former TMC members — attended a Mangal Milan session for the first time .
PM Narendra Modi , Kiren Rijiju , Arjun Ram Meghwal , Pralhad Joshi , and Jitendra Singh were present at the meeting.
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 , introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday, provides for up to 10 years imprisonment and fines of up to ₹10 crore .
The Opposition is reportedly set to raise alleged police brutality against students at Jantar Mantar during the ongoing Parliament session.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Parliamentary Party meeting, 'Mangal Milan', got underway at the Parliament Library Building (PLB) on Tuesday, 29 July 2025, with a notable first — three former All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) rebels, now sitting as NCPI MPs, attended the alliance strategy session for the first time. The meeting follows the introduction of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
Who Attended
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi, and Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh were among the senior NDA leaders present at the G.M.C. Balayogi Auditorium. NCPI MPs Kakoli Ghosh, Shatabdi Roy, and Saayoni Ghosh — all formerly affiliated with the Trinamool Congress — also participated, marking their maiden appearance at a Mangal Milan session.
The Anti-Cheating Bill at the Centre
The Mangal Milan deliberations come at a strategically charged moment. MoS Jitendra Singh introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha on Monday amid sustained Opposition sloganeering on the floor of the House. The Bill seeks to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
Among its key provisions are imprisonment of up to 10 years, fines of up to ₹10 crore, confiscation of assets of the convicted, and a mandate for verdicts to be delivered within three months. The legislation is aimed at strengthening transparency and integrity in public examinations while, according to the government, safeguarding students' futures.
Opposition Pressure and the Jantar Mantar Row
The alliance meeting was convened against a backdrop of rising political tension. The Opposition is reportedly preparing to corner the government over alleged police brutality against students protesting at Jantar Mantar. The timing of the Mangal Milan session — a day after the Bill's introduction — signals the Centre's intent to build floor consensus and manage parliamentary optics before a likely debate.
What Mangal Milan Is
Mangal Milan functions as the NDA's weekly parliamentary strategy session, rebranded to project unity and constructive dialogue among alliance constituents. The forum coordinates daily floor management, distributes speaking roles, and builds cross-party consensus during Parliament sessions. Key NDA partners — including Shiv Sena, the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and the Janata Dal (United) (JDU) — participate alongside regional allies.
What to Watch
With the anti-cheating Bill expected to come up for debate and the Opposition mobilising around the Jantar Mantar protests, the coming days in Parliament are likely to be contentious. The NCPI MPs' formal integration into NDA's parliamentary coordination mechanism could also signal a broader realignment in Bengal's political landscape ahead of the state assembly elections.
Point of View
Introduced amid Opposition uproar, tests whether the alliance's floor management machinery can deliver on legislation that is politically sensitive but electorally useful. More broadly, the absorption of former TMC legislators into NDA's weekly strategy circle reflects the Centre's ongoing effort to erode the Trinamool Congress's grip in West Bengal ahead of the next state election — a political calculus that runs well beneath the surface of parliamentary procedure.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NDA Mangal Milan meeting?
Mangal Milan is the NDA's weekly parliamentary party strategy session, held to coordinate floor management, distribute speaking roles among alliance partners, and build cross-party consensus during Parliament sessions. It brings together MPs from NDA constituents including Shiv Sena, LJP, TDP, JDU, and regional allies.
Why is the NCPI MPs' attendance at Mangal Milan significant?
NCPI MPs Kakoli Ghosh, Shatabdi Roy, and Saayoni Ghosh — all former Trinamool Congress members — attended the Mangal Milan session for the first time on 29 July 2025. Their participation signals a formal integration into NDA's parliamentary coordination mechanism and a potential shift in Bengal's political alignment.
What is the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026?
The Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday by MoS Jitendra Singh, seeks to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. It proposes imprisonment of up to 10 years, fines of up to ₹10 crore, asset confiscation for the convicted, and a three-month deadline for delivering verdicts in examination fraud cases.
Why is the Opposition challenging the government during this Parliament session?
The Opposition is reportedly preparing to raise concerns over alleged police brutality against students protesting at Jantar Mantar, seeking to put the government on the defensive even as the Centre pushes the anti-cheating Bill through the House.
Where was the Mangal Milan meeting held?
The meeting was held at the G.M.C. Balayogi Auditorium in the Parliament Library Building in New Delhi on 29 July 2025.
