NCPI MPs Reject BJP Switch, Say They Will Remain With Party

Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) MPs Abu Taher Khan and Khalilur Rahaman have denied speculation that they are planning to join the BJP, even as questions remain over their formal political affiliation in the Lok Sabha.

The two MPs are among 20 rebel Trinamool Congress MPs who parted ways with the Mamata Banerjee-led party and joined the lesser-known NCPI weeks after the West Bengal Assembly election. However, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has not yet formally recognised them as NCPI MPs.

Taher and Rahaman faced renewed questions about their political alignment after Rahaman, Taher and fellow MP Yusuf Pathan attended a breakfast meeting hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for MPs of several alliance partners. The three MPs had maintained that they were not part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Speaking to reporters after meeting West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at the state secretariat on Saturday, Taher pointed to the continuing uncertainty over their parliamentary status. He said the Lok Sabha Speaker still addresses them as All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) MPs, with the party name appearing alongside theirs during parliamentary proceedings.

Asked about his future political course, Rahaman said, “Only time will tell.” However, when specifically questioned about joining the BJP, he ruled out the possibility.

“No, we are not joining the BJP. We will remain with the NCPI,” Rahaman said.

The clarification comes days after Taher, Rahaman and Pathan met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and submitted a memorandum raising concerns over reported restrictions on the use of loudspeakers at mosques and the alleged deletion of genuine voters during the recent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal.

Despite their move to the NCPI, the absence of formal recognition by the Lok Sabha Speaker has left questions surrounding the MPs’ official party affiliation. The latest statements from Taher and Rahaman, however, indicate that they intend to remain with the NCPI while denying any move towards the BJP.