17 NCPI MPs May Join BJP Around Durga Puja, Claims Rebel TMC MP Jagadish Basunia

Kolkata: A fresh political controversy has erupted in West Bengal after rebel Trinamool Congress MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia claimed that 17 of the 20 MPs currently aligned with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) are preparing to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) around Durga Puja in October. Basunia said the proposed move could take place either before or shortly after the festival and would involve the 17 MPs moving together. He argued that because they would constitute more than two-thirds of the group, they would remain protected from disqualification under the anti-defection provisions. However, the claim has already triggered disagreement within the rebel camp. Other dissident MPs have reportedly disputed the suggestion that a collective decision to join the BJP has been finalised. The West Bengal BJP has also sought to distance itself from the announcement, adding another layer of uncertainty to the unfolding political drama.

Basunia's BJP Joining Claim

According to Basunia, 17 members of the 20-member NCPI parliamentary group have agreed to move to the BJP together. He presented the proposed collective move as a way of addressing possible questions under the anti-defection law. The issue is particularly significant because the 20 MPs were originally elected on TMC tickets before breaking away from the party. In June, the dissident lawmakers announced that they had merged with the relatively little-known NCPI and extended their support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Basunia now claims that the next step could be a direct association with the BJP for most members of the group. If the proposed switch happens, it would represent another major change in the political alignment of the rebel MPs and could further reshape the balance of political forces in West Bengal.

Why the Number 17 Matters

At the heart of the controversy is the two-thirds provision associated with the anti-defection framework. The rebel group originally consisted of 20 MPs. Two-thirds of that number is 13.33, meaning at least 14 members would be required to reach the numerical threshold being cited by the rebels. Basunia has therefore highlighted the figure of 17, arguing that the proposed move would comfortably cross that threshold. However, questions surrounding how the law applies to a subsequent movement from one political formation to another could still become a matter of legal and parliamentary interpretation. The anti-defection issue had already become central when the rebel TMC MPs announced their association with NCPI in June. At that time, the dissidents sought recognition as a separate bloc in Parliament after claiming the support of 20 of TMC's 28 Lok Sabha MPs.

Three MPs May Support NDA From Outside

Basunia also indicated that three members of the 20-member group may not formally enter the BJP. He identified Abu Taher Khan, Khalilur Rahaman and Yusuf Pathan as the three MPs who, according to his claim, could continue supporting the NDA without becoming BJP members. The reason, Basunia suggested, is the political situation in their respective constituencies. Instead of formally joining the BJP, he said, the three could extend their support to the ruling alliance from outside. Basunia further suggested that these MPs could potentially receive important responsibilities in the future, although there has been no confirmed announcement from the BJP or NDA regarding such appointments.

BJP Keeps Distance From the Claim

The BJP's response has added an important twist to the story. West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya has indicated that the party is not automatically accepting the claims being made by the rebel MPs. The BJP has maintained that anyone wishing to join the party cannot simply assume that their entry has already been approved. The state BJP leadership has also reiterated that the party intends to fight the upcoming Kolkata and Howrah civic elections on its own strength rather than relying on a formal electoral arrangement with NCPI. That position creates an apparent contradiction with NCPI MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay, who has maintained that his party would contest the municipal elections as part of the NDA. The disagreement is significant because it suggests that the future relationship between NCPI and the BJP may not yet be completely settled.

Rebel MPs Also Challenge Basunia's Statement

Basunia's announcement has not received unanimous backing from the MPs who are part of the NCPI group. Reports indicate that fellow rebel lawmakers have questioned his assertion that 17 MPs have already taken a collective decision to join the BJP. This means the number of MPs who may actually make the switch remains uncertain. The distinction between an individual political claim and a formally approved decision is important. Unless the MPs themselves make a joint announcement or the BJP confirms their induction, the proposed October move should be treated as a political claim rather than a completed realignment.

What It Could Mean for West Bengal Politics

The controversy comes at a politically sensitive time for West Bengal. The breakaway of 20 TMC MPs and their subsequent association with NCPI had already created a major challenge for the party. Their possible movement toward the BJP could intensify the political competition between the BJP and the TMC and provide the BJP with additional parliamentary strength. For the TMC, the development could deepen concerns over defections and the future of its parliamentary organisation. For the BJP, however, absorbing a large group of former TMC MPs could bring both political opportunities and organisational challenges. The party would have to manage questions surrounding the backgrounds, constituencies and political influence of the incoming lawmakers. The role of NCPI is also becoming increasingly important. The party was relatively obscure nationally before the rebel TMC MPs announced their merger with it in June. The move suddenly placed NCPI at the centre of West Bengal's political debate.

Durga Puja Could Become a Political Deadline

Basunia's reference to Durga Puja has given the controversy a specific timeline. If his prediction proves accurate, October could witness a major political realignment involving a substantial section of the NCPI parliamentary group. But if the other MPs continue to reject the claim, the issue could instead become another source of tension within the rebel camp. For now, the proposed BJP switch remains unconfirmed. The BJP has not formally endorsed the claim, while some rebel MPs have challenged the suggestion that a final collective decision has already been made. The coming weeks are therefore likely to be crucial. Any formal announcement by the MPs, a BJP induction ceremony or a clarification from the NCPI leadership could determine whether Basunia's prediction becomes a political reality or remains an internal claim. For West Bengal politics, the stakes are high. A movement involving 17 MPs would represent a dramatic shift in the state's political landscape, while a failure to execute the proposed switch could expose divisions within the rebel bloc. With Durga Puja approaching, all eyes will now be on the NCPI MPs, the BJP leadership, and the next moves of the TMC.