Claims of Rebel MPs Joining BJP Stir Controversy in West Bengal

In Kolkata, Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, a rebel Member of Parliament representing the Trinamool Congress (TMC), has asserted that 17 out of 20 MPs who recently defected to the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) intend to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) either before or after the upcoming Durga Puja festival. His claims were met with outright denials from both fellow rebel MPs and BJP officials in West Bengal.

Basunia, the MP for Cooch Behar, shared his statements during an interview with a Bengali television channel, stating that the remaining three MPs—namely Abu Taher Khan, Khaliloor Rahaman, and Yusuf Pathan—would abstain from joining the BJP but would back the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Khan refuted Basunia's comments, asserting, "We won’t join BJP or NDA. I don’t know what he is saying about us." He added, regarding attendance at NDA meetings, "We didn’t attend the previous meetings and won’t also go in future."

Further clarifying their stance, Khan remarked that while they might attend meetings focused on development led by senior leaders such as the Prime Minister or the Chief Minister, they would not engage in BJP or NDA gatherings.

Basunia's assertions extended to a claim that plans had already been made for the exit of 17 MPs to the BJP. He suggested that the three dissenting MPs would receive positions within the Narendra Modi Cabinet. Claiming to represent a collective decision, he stated, "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 thirds of the 20 MPs. But we are 17 MPs who will join BJP either before or after the Durga Puja."

The legitimacy of the claims was further complicated by ongoing disputes regarding the MPs' affiliations. Despite the announcement of their merger with the NCPI four months ago, Lok Sabha records continue to classify these MPs as members of the TMC. Abhishek Banerjee, a senior TMC leader, has approached the Supreme Court seeking the disqualification of these rebel MPs under the anti-defection law. Notices were issued to the MPs by the Lok Sabha Secretariat on August 26, with a response deadline extended to September 22. The Supreme Court has similarly issued notices to the MPs.

In response to Basunia's claims, Samik Bhattacharya, the president of the West Bengal BJP, stated, "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." This sentiment reflects the ongoing tensions between the parties amid the political uncertainty in West Bengal following the TMC's defeat in the recent assembly elections.

The situation remains fluid, with differing narratives among the MPs and uncertainty regarding future alliances taking centre stage in West Bengal's politically charged atmosphere.