Rebel Trinamool MP Basunia claims 17 of 20 NCPI MPs to join BJP; fellow rebels, ruling party deny
Rebel Trinamool Congress MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia claims that 17 of 20 Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) MPs plan to defect to the BJP. However, other rebel MPs have publicly denied this claim, stating that no such collective decision has been made.
Why it matters
This internal political instability within the NCPI and TMC could significantly alter the balance of power in the Lok Sabha and impact the stability of the current opposition coalition.
Rebel Trinamool Congress leader and Cooch Behar MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia on Monday (September 14, 2026) claimed that 17 of the 20 Lok Sabha members aligned with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) will join the BJP before or after Durga Puja, a claim promptly disputed by fellow dissidents.
The BJP sought to distance itself from the claim, with its West Bengal unit chief Samik Bhattacharya saying the party would not take in anyone merely because they want to join it.
Mr. Basunia said 17 MPs have finalised plans to join the BJP together and the number would be sufficient to keep them outside the purview of the anti-defection law.
"We are 17 MPs who are going to the BJP together. Since more than two-thirds of the 20 members will be switching, the anti-defection law will not apply to us," he told reporters.
Also covering this story
2 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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