'Still in the dark': Confusion shrouds TMC rebels' merger with NCPI

The proposed merger between rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) Members of Parliament and the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) is mired in confusion, with key figures in the smaller party stating they are unaware of the negotiations. Despite rebel TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar announcing Jyotiprakash Chatterjee as the new president of the NCPI, leaders within the party say they have received no official communication.

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We have not received any communication from the TMC MPs till Tuesday evening. Till now we are still in the dark about the merger-decision. We, however, welcome the merger decision.

Dastidar, who is leading the faction, told reporters in Delhi that the merger had been accepted and that the group would work with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. She indicated that the NDA would focus on implementing schemes in West Bengal that have not yet been put into practice. The NCPI, on its Facebook page, declared itself the "largest parliamentary force from West Bengal" with 20 MPs, surpassing the BJP, TMC, and Congress in the state's representation in Lok Sabha.

However, NCPI leaders expressed bewilderment. Santanu Deu, organizing general secretary and a founding member, stated, "We have not received any communication from the TMC MPs till Tuesday evening. Till now we are still in the dark about the merger-decision. We, however, welcome the merger decision." Dilip Roy, general secretary and former state president, added, "We don’t know who Jyotiprakash Chatterjee is and how he was named the president. I came to know Dastidar has told the media that the merger has been accepted by NCPI. We don’t know who took the decision and when."

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We don’t know who Jyotiprakash Chatterjee is and how he was named the president. I came to know Dastidar has told the media that the merger has been accepted by NCPI. We don’t know who took the decision and when.

The NCPI, established in January 2023, shares its registered office with a non-governmental organization and a local newspaper in Howrah district. Shewly Kundu, a founding member and former national president, resigned a month prior to the announcement and could not be reached. Her husband, Uttiya Kundu, also a founding member, remains untraceable. Shewly Kundu acknowledged that Uttiya might be reachable in a day or two and admitted uncertainty about the current party president.

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You will be able to speak to him (Uttiya) in a day or two. I don’t know who the present president is. You will come to know that too very soon.