Our Correspondent / New Delhi
In India, political parties typically spend years—often decades—building grassroots networks, nurturing cadres and cultivating voter loyalty before emerging as significant parliamentary forces. The Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), however, appears poised to bypass that entire process.
A little known political outfit that secured just 822 votes in its only electoral contest and reported donations of merely Rs 1.13 lakh could soon become the fifth largest party in the Lok Sabha if the proposed merger of nearly 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs receives approval from the Speaker.
The development has triggered intense political debate, raised questions about the anti defection framework, and fuelled allegations from opposition parties that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may have played a behind the scenes role in facilitating the split.
A Political Minnow on the Verge of National Relevance
Registered as a Registered Unrecognised Political Party (RUPP) by the Election Commission of India in January 2023, the NCPI has had virtually no electoral footprint.
The party’s sole electoral outing came in the 2023 Tripura Assembly elections. While it fielded candidates in seven constituencies, four nominations were rejected. The remaining two candidates secured just 536 and 286 votes respectively, taking the party’s total tally to 822 votes. Even including an Independent candidate associated with the broader NCPI network, the combined vote count reached only 1,198.
The party failed to win a seat or make a meaningful impact in any constituency. Financially too, the organisation has remained modest. Election Commission disclosures show total donations of around Rs 1.13 lakh, a figure that pales in comparison with the resources commanded by established national and regional parties.
Yet, if the merger proceeds, NCPI would leap from having no representation in Parliament to controlling a bloc of around 20 MPs overnight—larger than many regional parties that have spent years building their electoral base.
Parliamentary Arithmetic Changes Dramatically
The implications extend far beyond symbolism. With around 20 MPs, NCPI would become the fifth-largest party in the Lok Sabha, behind the BJP, Congress, Samajwadi Party and DMK. More significantly, it could emerge as one of the largest constituents within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), altering the coalition’s internal dynamics.
For the ruling alliance, additional parliamentary numbers would provide greater legislative comfort at a time when contentious bills and reforms are expected to come before Parliament.
Political observers note that while coalition governments often attract support from smaller parties, the transformation of a politically insignificant outfit into a major parliamentary force through defections is highly unusual in contemporary Indian politics.
Uttiya Kundu and party treasurer Shewly Kundu (L)- PHOTO SOCIAL MEDIA
The Kundu Couple at the Centre of the Storm
At the heart of the controversy are NCPI president Uttiya Kundu and party treasurer Shewly Kundu, a husband and wife team who effectively control the organisation.
Party records place the couple at the centre of the NCPI’s operations. Despite the party’s limited public profile, they suddenly find themselves presiding over what could become a significant parliamentary grouping.
The controversy deepened after NCPI founder Shantanu Dey publicly claimed he had no prior knowledge of the proposed merger. Dey alleged that the decision had been taken without wider consultation within the party and suggested that several senior members were unaware of the development.
Questions Over the Anti Defection Framework
Beyond political optics, constitutional and procedural issues are also being debated. Under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, commonly known as the anti defection law, mergers involving legislators must satisfy specific conditions. Legal experts point out that the Speaker’s decision will be crucial in determining whether the rebel MPs qualify for protection from disqualification.
The matter is likely to be closely scrutinised because the MPs are not joining an established parliamentary force but a party that had no representation in the Lok Sabha prior to the proposed merger.
The Speaker’s ruling could therefore have implications extending beyond the immediate case and may influence how future political realignments are interpreted under anti defection provisions.
BJP’s Alleged Role Sparks Political Row
The most contentious aspect of the episode concerns allegations that the BJP may have facilitated the rebellion. Political speculation intensified after reports of meetings involving several rebel TMC MPs at the residence of Union Minister Bhupender Yadav. The reported presence of senior BJP leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari and other prominent figures, further fuelled discussion about possible coordination.
The Congress has been particularly vocal in its criticism. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the BJP of engineering what he described as an “illegal breakaway” from the TMC. He argued that a little known party could suddenly become one of the largest constituents of the NDA through political manoeuvring rather than electoral endorsement.
The Congress has also questioned how a party with negligible electoral support could potentially surpass long established NDA allies in parliamentary strength. The BJP, however, has categorically rejected all allegations.
Party leaders maintain that the developments are entirely internal to the TMC and reflect dissatisfaction among its MPs rather than any intervention by the ruling party. BJP leaders have argued that opposition attempts to link the party to the rebellion are politically motivated.
A Test Case for Indian Democracy
Whatever the final outcome, the NCPI episode is likely to become one of the most closely watched political developments of the current Lok Sabha.
For supporters, the merger represents a legitimate political realignment by elected representatives seeking a new platform. For critics, it raises troubling questions about democratic mandates, party structures and the spirit of anti defection safeguards.
The Speaker’s decision will now determine whether the NCPI’s extraordinary journey—from a party that polled just 822 votes in Tripura to a potential parliamentary heavyweight in New Delhi—becomes one of the most remarkable political transformations in India’s democratic history.