The rebel MPs of Trinamool Congress have also announced their merger with the little-known ‘Nationalist Citizens Party of India’ (NCPI), where mutual differences are visible. NCPI Secretary expressed his displeasure over the merger and said that this process is not democratic. We were not even asked before the merger. He also said that if his questions were not answered then he would go to the Calcutta High Court.
NCPI Secretary Shantanu Dey accused the party leadership and said that no talks were held with the party officials before the merger. Such a decision cannot be taken alone. Husband and wife took the decision amongst themselves. He said that those who worked on the land in Tripura were ignored.
Uttiya claims to be close to CM Shubhendu
After the secretary expressed his displeasure, the party chief has also come into the limelight. NCPI founder Uttiya Kundu and his wife Shevli remain in the news. Local people say that the couple had come to Sankrail in Howrah district from Nadia district about eight years ago. However, Uttiya Kundu is being claimed to be close to Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari.
Shantanu is not the founder and general secretary: Sheveli
Shevali Kundu says, “I was the founding president of this party. But I have resigned from the post of president. Only the new president of the party can give information about this. I do not know who the new president is. We were with the NDA in Tripura. I had resigned (from the party post) because I was not able to devote much time due to my practice in the High Court. I will not comment on this matter (merger of TMC MPs in NCPI). Neither Shantanu De nor Neither is he the founder of the party nor is he a member after 2023.
Raising questions on the merger process, Shantanu Dey said, “If my questions are not answered, I will go to the Calcutta High Court and the Election Commission. This process of merger is not democratic.” He also said, “I will soon hold a press conference and make many revelations in this matter.”
There was no discussion regarding merger: Shantanu
A day after TMC announced the merger of 20 rebel MPs with NCPI, secretary Shantanu Dey said the party chief had not discussed any merger proposal with other office-bearers and indicated that the decision had not received the organization’s approval.
After this claim of party secretary Shantanu Dey, who suddenly came into limelight due to the merger, it is being said that differences are visible within the party organization. But this dramatic political development of merger has made a lesser known party the center of discussion at the national level.
Party registered 3 years ago
Shantun said that the political activities of NCPI are limited to Tripura only and the party has never been active in West Bengal. Although the party was registered in West Bengal in 2023, the party was never active there.
According to Election Commission records, NCPI had contested only 3 seats (Ambassa, Chavamanu and Kailashahar) in the 2023 Tripura Assembly elections, while the nomination of the party’s candidate from Karamchara seat was canceled and hence he could not contest the elections.
Earlier, 20 rebel Lok Sabha MPs of TMC had met Speaker Om Birla and announced their merger with NCPI, supporting the BJP-led ‘National Democratic Alliance’ (NDA). Rebel TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar had then said, “Two-thirds of TMC MPs have written a letter to the Speaker for separate seating arrangements. We will merge with ‘NCPI’ and support NDA.”
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