NCPI MPs from Murshidabad meet Bengal CM Adhikari at Nabanna over SIR voter deletions
Synopsis
Two NCPI MPs from Murshidabad who openly oppose their party's BJP alliance sat down with West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari at Nabanna — just hours after attending PM Modi's breakfast in Delhi. The real agenda: stalled tribunal decisions on mass voter deletions from the SIR, a flashpoint that has now drawn two separate political delegations to the Chief Minister in a single day.
Key Takeaways
Khalilur Rahaman and Abu Taher Khan , former Trinamool Congress MPs now with NCPI , met West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari at Nabanna on 8 August .
Both MPs have publicly opposed NCPI joining the BJP-led NDA , yet attended PM Modi's breakfast meeting in New Delhi on 7 August .
The meeting centred on delayed tribunal decisions for voters whose names were deleted in Murshidabad during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) .
A separate delegation led by expelled TMC legislator Ritabrata Banerjee had raised the same SIR issue with Adhikari the previous day.
CM Adhikari has said the state will not intervene in the court matter but assured welfare scheme access for those with pending tribunal cases.
Two former Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha members-turned-Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) legislators, Khalilur Rahaman and Abu Taher Khan, held a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at the State Secretariat Nabanna in Kolkata on Saturday, 8 August. Both MPs represent constituencies in Murshidabad district and have publicly opposed NCPI's alignment with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Key Developments
The meeting comes just a day after Rahaman and Khan attended a breakfast meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his New Delhi residence on Friday, 7 August, along with all 20 former Trinamool Congress MPs who have joined the NCPI. Political observers in the state consider Saturday's separate meeting with the Chief Minister particularly significant given the two MPs' stated reservations about the BJP alliance.
A third minority Lok Sabha member from Murshidabad, cricketer-turned-politician Yusuf Pathan, has also echoed this position — opposing NCPI's entry into the NDA while simultaneously pledging close coordination with the Adhikari-led BJP state government to advance development in their respective constituencies.
The Voter Deletion Issue at the Centre of Talks
The primary agenda of Saturday's meeting was the large-scale voter deletions in Murshidabad district following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) conducted earlier this year. A significant number of voters had their names struck off the rolls, and tribunal decisions on their cases have been considerably delayed, according to reports.
Notably, this is the second such representation to the Chief Minister on the same issue within a day. On Friday, a delegation from the so-called 'rebel but majority' faction within Trinamool Congress — led by expelled party legislator Ritabrata Banerjee — had also met Adhikari at Nabanna and raised identical concerns.
What the Chief Minister Has Said
Chief Minister Adhikari has maintained that since the voter deletion matter is sub-judice, the state administration will not intervene directly. However, he has assured that affected residents will continue to receive benefits under social welfare schemes even while their tribunal cases remain pending.
He reiterated, however, that those who have not filed applications before the tribunal — despite having their names removed under the SIR — will not be entitled to such benefits. The Chief Minister's position draws a clear line between judicial proceedings and administrative relief.
Political Significance
The dual track being navigated by the Murshidabad NCPI MPs — resisting BJP's national alliance while engaging constructively with a BJP state government — reflects the complex political arithmetic of West Bengal, where minority-dominated constituencies in Murshidabad carry significant electoral weight. How this tension resolves within the NCPI could shape the party's positioning ahead of future state and national elections.
Point of View
But the deeper question is whether NCPI can sustain a dual identity as a BJP ally nationally and a secular alternative locally. That tension, unresolved, is a liability in every booth in Murshidabad.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did NCPI MPs Khalilur Rahaman and Abu Taher Khan meet West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari?
The two MPs met CM Adhikari at Nabanna on 8 August primarily to raise concerns about delayed tribunal decisions on large-scale voter deletions in Murshidabad district following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). They sought intervention to expedite relief for affected constituents.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) controversy in Murshidabad?
The SIR was a voter list revision exercise conducted in West Bengal earlier in 2025 that resulted in a significant number of names being deleted from electoral rolls in Murshidabad district. Affected voters have filed tribunal cases, but decisions have been significantly delayed, prompting political pressure on the state government.
Are the NCPI MPs opposed to joining the BJP-led NDA?
Yes. Khalilur Rahaman, Abu Taher Khan, and fellow Murshidabad MP Yusuf Pathan have all publicly stated their opposition to NCPI becoming an ally of the BJP in the National Democratic Alliance. However, all three have said they will maintain working coordination with the Adhikari-led BJP state government for constituency development.
What has CM Adhikari said about the voter deletion issue?
CM Adhikari has clarified that since the matter is before the courts, the state administration will not intervene directly. He has assured that those with pending tribunal cases will still receive social welfare scheme benefits, but said those who have not applied to the tribunal at all will not be eligible.
Who else raised the SIR voter deletion issue with CM Adhikari?
A day before the NCPI MPs' visit, a delegation from the 'rebel but majority' Trinamool Congress faction, led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee, met CM Adhikari at Nabanna and raised the same voter deletion concerns from the SIR.
