17 NCPI MPs to join BJP after Durga Puja, claims rebel TMC MP; BJP denies claim

KOLKATA: Rebel Trinamool Congress MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia has claimed that 17 of the 20 MPs who joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) four months ago will join the BJP before or after Durga Puja. His claim, however, was rejected by fellow rebel MPs and the West Bengal BJP.

Basunia, the MP from Cooch Behar, told a Bengali TV news channel that the remaining three MPs — Abu Taher Khan, Khaliloor Rahaman and former cricketer Yusuf Pathan from Murshidabad district — would not join the BJP but would support the BJP-led NDA.

He also claimed the three Muslim MPs would get portfolios in the Narendra Modi Cabinet.

“We the three MPs won’t join BJP or NDA. I don’t know what he is saying about us,” Abu Taher Khan told TNIE.

Asked if they would attend NDA meetings, Khan said, “We didn’t attend the previous meetings and won’t also go in future.”

He said the three MPs could attend meetings called by the Prime Minister or Chief Minister on development issues, but not BJP or NDA meetings.

Bapi Haldar, NCPI MP from Mathurapur, said, “I know nothing about what Basunia has said.”

Satabdi Roy, another rebel MP, said Basunia had spoken in his personal capacity and no such decision had been taken by the group.

In the interview, Basunia said, “Besides the three MPs, we the 17 others will join BJP. We have already prepared our plans.”

“They have some problems. They will support the NDA and work for it. We are all now the NCPI MPs. It’s sufficient if 14 NCPI MPs join BJP and it means two third of the 20 MPs. But we are 17 MPs who will join BJP either before or after the Durga Puja. There will be no problem under anti-defection law,” Basunia said.

He also claimed all 20 MPs had initially wanted to join the BJP directly after leaving the Trinamool Congress, but the plan changed after three MPs refused to join the saffron party.

“With initiatives of several BJP leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari, we were merged with the NCPI,” Basunia claimed, adding, “NCPI is an unrecognised political party though its registered.”

Twenty of the Trinamool Congress’ 27 Lok Sabha MPs joined the NCPI and extended support to the BJP-led NDA after the party’s defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections in May. On June 14, the dissident MPs announced their merger with the NCPI and sought recognition as a separate parliamentary group under the anti-defection law.

Lok Sabha records, however, continue to list the 20 MPs as Trinamool Congress members, and their request for recognition as a separate NCPI group is yet to be decided.

Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee has approached the Supreme Court seeking the disqualification of the 20 rebel MPs under the anti-defection law. The Lok Sabha Secretariat issued notices to the MPs on August 26, seeking their replies. Speaker Om Birla granted them three more weeks, extending the deadline to September 22. The Supreme Court has also issued notices to the 20 MPs.

The West Bengal BJP also rejected Basunia’s claim.

“As far as I know, no one from the TMC or NCPI is joining the BJP. People of the state have not forgotten the kind of atrocities these leaders and MPs have done during the TMC regime,” Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said.