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Ritabrata Banerjee says 65 rebel MLAs in West Bengal Assembly will not merge with NCPI.
Ritabrata Banerjee has ruled out the NCPI merger for rebel TMC legislators. (Image: ANI/File)
Amid the deepening crisis within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly and expelled TMC leader Ritabrata Banerjee on Monday clarified that the decision of 20 rebel TMC MPs to merge with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) does not extend to the rebel legislators in the state Assembly.
Reacting to the announcement by the dissident MPs, Banerjee said, “20 MPs of the Lok Sabha have decided to merge with the National Citizens Party of India. It is their decision… As far as our collective is concerned, we have no such idea. No question of merger of TMC MLAs in Bengal Legislative Assembly with NCPI… As of now, we have the support of 65 rebel MLAs.”
#WATCH | Kolkata: On 20 rebel TMC MPs merging with NCPI (Nationalist Citizens Party of India), West Bengal LoP and expelled TMC leader Ritabrata Banerjee says, “20 MPs of the Lok Sabha have decided to merge with the National Citizens Party of India. It is their decision… Our… pic.twitter.com/Cz18fg2w3t— ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2026
’65 MLAs Back Our Collective’
He further added, “… We have given a letter to the speaker if the names go public, that is a breach of privilege…”
The rebel MLA’s remarks come a day after a group of dissident parliamentarians announced plans to merge with the NCPI and subsequently support the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre.
According to sources, the NCPI is expected to focus primarily on politics in West Bengal, Assam and Tripura. Rebel MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar confirmed the move after a meeting of dissident leaders in Delhi, saying, “We are merging with the Nationalist Citizens Party.”
TMC Rift Widens After Poll Defeat
Several rebel MPs, including Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Satabdi Roy, Arup Chakraborty, Saayoni Ghosh, Mala Roy, Bapi Halder and Prasun Banerjee, attended a meeting at Union Minister Bhupender Yadav’s residence on Sunday. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey was also present. The rebel camp then headed to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s residence for another meeting.
The rebellion follows TMC’s defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections and has exposed a widening divide within the party. While the MPs appear set to chart a new political course through the NCPI, Banerjee’s remarks indicate that the rebel MLAs are, for now, focused on consolidating their strength within the Assembly rather than joining the merger.
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