Durga Puja is scheduled to begin on October 6 and conclude on October 10.
Rebel TMC Lawmaker Claims 17 NCPI MPs Will Join BJP
Basunia stated that the group intends to move together to bypass disqualification rules. Since more than two-thirds of the 20 members will be moving, the anti-defection law will not apply to us.
The political shift stems from events in May, when the TMC suffered a defeat in the assembly polls. Following the election, 20 of the TMC’s Lok Sabha members announced a merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India on June 14 and extended their support to the National Democratic Alliance. Under the provisions of the anti-defection law, at least two-thirds of a legislature party—translating to 14 out of the 20 rebel MPs—must agree to a merger to avoid disqualification.
Disputes and Rejections From Fellow Dissidents
Basunia’s announcement faced immediate pushback from fellow rebel lawmakers within the NCPI group. Fellow dissident MP Satabdi Roy stated that Basunia expressed his remarks in a personal capacity and that the group had not made any formal decision. Another rebel parliamentarian, Abu Taher Khan, asserted that Basunia lacked the authority to speak for all the MPs who joined the NCPI.
Furthermore, Khan rejected Basunia’s assertions regarding minority lawmakers supporting the BJP-led NDA from outside the party. Basunia had named Khan, Khalilur Rahaman, and Yusuf Pathan as legislators who would not formally join the BJP due to constituency dynamics but would instead extend outside support and potentially receive portfolios. Khan disputed this, stating that they would not join the BJP or the NDA.
The BJP’s West Bengal unit chief, Samik Bhattacharya, also distanced his party from Basunia’s declaration, noting that the party would not accept individuals solely based on their desire to join.
Legal Challenges and Speaker Proceedings
The legal and parliamentary standing of the rebel lawmakers remains contested. TMC leadership, headed by Mamata Banerjee, moved the Supreme Court and submitted applications to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to seek the disqualification of the 20 MPs. Abhishek Banerjee submitted petitions on June 19 arguing that members who voluntarily give up party membership must be disqualified under the 10th Schedule, and contended that a valid merger requires two-thirds of the political party rather than just the legislature party.
Although Speaker Om Birla accepted a request from the rebel MPs in July to sit separately in the Lok Sabha, the group has not received formal recognition as the Nationalist Citizens Party of India in the chamber. Official Lok Sabha records continue to list the 20 individuals as TMC members, and the Supreme Court has issued notices to the parliamentarians regarding the dispute. The speaker granted the MPs an additional three weeks to present their case, extending the revised deadline until September 22.
Local Unrest and Protests in Cooch Behar
Basunia’s political realignment has generated local friction in his home constituency. Following his return to his ancestral home in Sitai, Cooch Behar, Basunia and his wife, TMC MLA Sangeeta Roy, faced demonstrations from local residents and BJP workers, as reported by ABP Live. Amid the unrest, a TMC office near his residence was allegedly vandalized and set on fire.
Protesters voiced anger over his political switch, accusing him of misusing political influence over the past 15 years to amass wealth. Despite the local backlash, Basunia maintained that he has completely severed ties with the Trinamool Congress and remains aligned with the NDA.
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