In a significant political development, 19 MPs from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have announced their merger with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, a former confidante of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, stated that the group will collaborate with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Announcement in Parliament
Speaking to reporters after submitting a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Ghosh Dastidar said, 'We, 20 MPs elected from the Trinamool Congress, met the Speaker and submitted a letter requesting to sit separately.' She clarified that 19 of them have merged with the NCP, while one MP has chosen a different path.
Political Implications
The move is seen as a major setback for the TMC, which has been a key opposition party in West Bengal. The merger is expected to strengthen the NDA's presence in the state. Ghosh Dastidar emphasized that the decision was made in the interest of national development and to support the policies of PM Modi.
The development comes ahead of the 2026 general elections, with political analysts viewing it as a realignment of forces in Indian politics. The TMC has not yet officially responded to the merger.
