NCPI founder flags 'sticking points' in Trinamool MPs merger, backs NDA
Synopsis
Twenty rebel Trinamool Congress MPs moved to merge with the little-known NCPI — a Tripura-based party with barely a footprint — to sidestep the anti-defection law. But the NCPI's own founder says he wasn't even consulted, and 'sticking points' remain. The legal and political validity of this manoeuvre is now squarely in the Lok Sabha Speaker's hands.
Key Takeaways
NCPI founder Shantanu Dey on 15 June said the merger with rebel Trinamool Congress MPs is not finalised, with 'sticking points' still unresolved.
Dey said the NCPI party president made the merger announcement unilaterally , without consulting him or other senior colleagues.
20 of the 28 Trinamool Congress MPs in the Lok Sabha have crossed over to the NCPI , seeking to form a separate bloc.
The merger structure is designed to potentially bypass the anti-defection law , which requires a two-thirds majority for protection.
If formalised, the NCPI could become the second-largest NDA constituent , ahead of JD(U) 's 12 MPs but behind TDP 's 16 MPs.
The NCPI is a registered but unrecognised party that contested only about half a dozen seats in the 2023 Tripura Assembly election .
Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) founder Shantanu Dey on Monday, 15 June said his party has not finalised the merger with rebel Trinamool Congress MPs, citing unresolved 'sticking points' and internal dissent over the decision. Dey, who also serves as the party's secretary general, confirmed that further deliberations are needed before any formal assimilation can proceed.
A Unilateral Call That Divided the Party
Dey stated that the NCPI party president announced the merger without consulting senior colleagues or him. 'Our party president has taken a unilateral decision. Without consulting other senior party colleagues or me, he made the announcement. I also came to know about it yesterday evening,' Dey said. He added that several party members have raised red flags about the move and are pushing for broader internal discussion before it is formalised.
NCPI's Ideological Alignment With NDA
Despite the internal friction over the merger mechanics, Dey was unequivocal about his party's political orientation. He stated that the NCPI shares the same ideology as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), making them 'natural allies.' Dey added that he is looking forward to engaging with BJP and NDA leadership to 'work together' and expand the party's reach and impact.
What Triggered the Merger Move
The merger proposal came to a head after a group of dissident Trinamool Congress MPs met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday, 14 June, informing him that they had merged with the NCPI and sought to sit as a separate bloc in the House. The rebel camp — 20 of the 28 Trinamool members in the Lok Sabha — crossed over to the new party. The arrangement is significant: by merging with a registered party rather than simply defecting, the MPs can potentially circumvent the anti-defection law, which requires a two-thirds majority for a merger to be legally protected.
NCPI's Profile and Political Stakes
The NCPI is a registered but unrecognised political party with limited ground presence, based in Tripura. It had contested the 2023 Assembly election under the slogan 'to save your rights, reject political turncoats,' fielding candidates in roughly half a dozen constituencies. If the merger with the 20 rebel Trinamool MPs is formalised, the NCPI could emerge as the second-largest constituent of the NDA, ahead of Janata Dal (United) with 12 MPs and behind only Telugu Desam Party (TDP) with 16 MPs.
What Happens Next
The merger's legal and political validity hinges on whether the Lok Sabha Speaker accepts the claim and how the NCPI resolves its internal disagreements. With Dey publicly flagging the lack of internal consultation, the arrangement faces scrutiny both within the party and from constitutional experts watching the anti-defection angle closely. A formal party meeting is expected before any final decision is communicated to the Speaker's office.
Point of View
What does that say about the durability of this arrangement? The Lok Sabha Speaker's ruling will set a precedent — either validating a creative workaround or tightening the screws on defection-by-merger. Either way, the real casualty is the original intent of the Tenth Schedule.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NCPI and why are Trinamool Congress MPs merging with it?
The Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) is a registered but unrecognised political party based in Tripura with limited ground presence. Twenty rebel Trinamool Congress MPs have sought to merge with it to potentially sidestep the anti-defection law, which requires a two-thirds majority of a party's parliamentary strength for a merger to be legally protected.
Why has NCPI founder Shantanu Dey raised objections to the merger?
Dey said the NCPI party president announced the merger unilaterally without consulting him or other senior party members. He stated that several colleagues have raised concerns and that 'sticking points' remain, making the merger not yet final.
Does the NCPI support the NDA government?
Yes. Dey confirmed that the NCPI shares the same ideology as the BJP and the NDA, describing them as 'natural allies.' The dissident Trinamool MPs who crossed over have also committed their support to the NDA.
How many Trinamool Congress MPs have crossed over to the NCPI?
20 of the 28 Trinamool Congress members in the Lok Sabha have crossed over and sought to merge with the NCPI. They met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on 14 June to inform him of the merger and request a separate seating bloc in the House.
What would the merger mean for the NDA's composition in the Lok Sabha?
If formalised, the NCPI — with 20 rebel Trinamool MPs — could become the second-largest constituent of the NDA, ahead of JD(U) with 12 MPs and behind TDP with 16 MPs, significantly reshaping the alliance's arithmetic.
