NCPI resurfaces online as 20 rebel Trinamool MPs join Bengal's new political front
Synopsis
A dormant Tripura-based party with no national footprint just became West Bengal's largest Lok Sabha grouping overnight — on paper. Twenty rebel Trinamool MPs joining NCPI has scrambled Bengal's parliamentary map, signalled an NDA tilt, and triggered a CAPF deployment at the party's Howrah office, all within 24 hours.
Key Takeaways
20 rebel Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha members joined NCPI on 15 June 2025 , led by four-time MPs Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Satabdi Roy .
NCPI now claims 20 West Bengal Lok Sabha seats , ahead of BJP ( 12 ), original TMC ( 8 ), and Congress ( 1 ).
Founding member Shantanu Dey initially opposed the move but reversed course by Monday, saying 'We will now work together in the NDA.' Central Armed Police Forces were deployed outside NCPI's office in Bankra, Howrah from Monday.
The Basirhat seat remains vacant after the death of MP Haji Sk.
Nurul Islam in September 2024 .
The National Citizens Party of India (NCPI), a virtually dormant Tripura-based political outfit, re-emerged on social media with a revamped presence on Monday, 16 June 2025, a day after 20 rebel Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha members formally announced their induction into the party. The development has reshaped West Bengal's parliamentary arithmetic in a single stroke.
The New Political Alignment
With the rebel bloc in place, NCPI now claims 20 Lok Sabha seats from West Bengal, making it — by its own reckoning — the state's largest parliamentary grouping. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holds 12 seats, the original All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) faction led by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee retains eight, and the Indian National Congress (Congress) accounts for one. The Basirhat seat in North 24 Parganas district remains vacant following the death of Trinamool MP Haji Sk. Nurul Islam in September 2024, just months after his election.
The Rebel Leadership
The defection was led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Satabdi Roy, both four-time Lok Sabha members. An initial post on NCPI's revamped Facebook page identified Ghosh Dastidar as the party's leader, though that post was subsequently deleted. On the same page, each of the 20 rebel MPs was formally welcomed to the party.
Internal Friction and a Rapid Reversal
Shantanu Dey, described as NCPI's 'National Organising General Secretary' and a founding member, said on Sunday that he had received no prior information about the mass induction and would have opposed it had he known. By Monday, however, Dey reversed course after fellow party members reportedly persuaded him that national expansion was necessary. 'We will now work together in the NDA,' Dey said, signalling that the reconstituted NCPI intends to align with the ruling coalition at the Centre.
Another founding member, Siuli Kundu — now focused on her legal career and social work — also welcomed the development. 'I am happy that the party is reaching a much bigger political arena with the joining of so many MPs at a time,' Kundu said.
Security Deployed at Party Office
NCPI maintains an office in Bankra, in the Howrah district adjacent to Kolkata. From Monday, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were deployed outside the office, reflecting the heightened political sensitivity surrounding the development.
What Comes Next
The rebel MPs' formal affiliation, the NDA alignment signal, and the sudden activation of a previously obscure party will now invite scrutiny from the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding anti-defection provisions and party recognition norms. How Mamata Banerjee's TMC responds — and whether the rebel bloc can sustain cohesion — will determine whether this realignment holds or fractures further.
Point of View
Or whether the rebel MPs have structured the move carefully enough to sidestep anti-defection provisions. Mamata Banerjee's response will also test whether TMC's organisational grip in Bengal can survive a 20-seat haemorrhage at the parliamentary level.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NCPI and why is it suddenly in the news?
The National Citizens Party of India (NCPI) is a Tripura-based political party that was largely dormant before 20 rebel Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha members joined it on 15 June 2025. The mass induction instantly made it West Bengal's largest parliamentary grouping by seat count, drawing national attention.
Who led the rebel Trinamool MPs into NCPI?
The defection was led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Satabdi Roy, both four-time Lok Sabha members from West Bengal. An initial social media post named Ghosh Dastidar as the party leader, though it was later deleted.
How does this change West Bengal's Lok Sabha seat distribution?
With 20 rebel MPs, NCPI now leads West Bengal's parliamentary tally, followed by BJP with 12 seats, the original TMC under Mamata Banerjee with 8, and Congress with 1. The Basirhat seat remains vacant.
Will the rebel MPs face disqualification under anti-defection law?
That remains to be determined. The Election Commission of India will likely scrutinise whether the merger meets the legal threshold to avoid disqualification under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which requires at least two-thirds of a party's legislative members to merge with another party.
What is the NDA connection?
NCPI founding member Shantanu Dey stated on Monday that the party would 'work together in the NDA,' indicating the reconstituted party intends to align with the National Democratic Alliance led by the BJP at the Centre.
