NCPI Welcomes Merger With 20 Rebel MPs from TMC
NCPI founder and national organising secretary Shantanu Dey said he was previously unaware of the developments but welcomed the move and expressed openness to further discussions
North 24 Parganas: Following rebel MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar's announcement that 20 MPs elected from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) intend to merge with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), NCPI founder and national organising secretary Shantanu Dey said he was previously unaware of the developments but welcomed the move and expressed openness to further discussions.
Speaking to ANI, Dey said the decision regarding the merger was taken by the party president. He added that he remains committed to the party's growth and is willing to engage with the new members to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi and work with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
"I got to know about this from social media and the news. I welcome them to hold talks with me. Why won't I be happy if my party grows? I have heard that the decision was taken by the party president. He has not called me about this yet," Dey said.
"I want to take the party forward. If my party grows, we will be able to work for the country. We support PM Modi and wish to work with the NDA for the nation. If Kakoli Di speaks to us, then we will certainly go (to Delhi). I am hopeful that we will talk. We will hold a press meet soon," he added.
The remarks come amid escalating political turmoil within the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), as a significant faction of the party announced a rebellion on Sunday.
Rebel MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar claimed that 20 Lok Sabha MPs have merged with the NCPI and will now extend support to the NDA.
Following a meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Dastidar said the group, which she claims constitutes more than two-thirds of the party's strength in the Lok Sabha, has requested separate seating in Parliament.
Speaking to ANI, Dastidar said the rebel MPs submitted a letter seeking separate seating arrangements and outlined their future political plans.
"We, the twenty MPs elected from the AITC, met the Speaker and submitted a letter requesting to sit separately. These twenty MPs constitute more than two-thirds of our total strength. We are merging with the Nationalist Citizens Party," she said.
"Moving forward, we will work for the nation and collaborate with the NDA under the leadership of the Prime Minister," Dastidar added.
