For nearly five years, a voluntary organisation operated from the Sankrail office, carrying out welfare programmes related to healthcare, livelihoods and social development.
Local residents say the organisation initially functioned solely as a social service group. Over time, however, political activity began to grow alongside the welfare work.
The immediate reason for the NCPI’s sudden prominence is the decision by twenty rebel Trinamool Congress MPs to merge with the party.
Among those reported to have joined are senior leaders including Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Mala Roy, Satabdi Roy, Saayoni Ghosh, Prasun Banerjee and several other MPs.
The rebels argue that their move is both political and strategic.
Under India’s anti-defection laws, legislators face legal complications if they simply break away from their original party. By merging with an existing registered political party, the MPs believe they can strengthen their legal position while retaining their parliamentary seats.
Political observers say this was a key factor behind the decision to join the NCPI rather than attempt to form an entirely new parliamentary group.
The rebels have also made it clear that they intend to support the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre.
After meeting Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar told reporters, โWe met the Speaker and requested separate seating arrangements for us in the Lok Sabha. We have formally informed him that we are merging with the Nationalist Citizens Party.โ
She added, โFrom now on, we will work together as part of the NDA alliance under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.โ
The decision to join the NCPI offers several potential advantages for the rebel MPs.
First, it provides them with an established political platform rather than forcing them to create a new party from scratch. Second, it may strengthen their legal defence against anti-defection challenges because they are merging with an already registered political party.
Third, the move allows them to maintain a distinct political identity while continuing to support the NDA government in Parliament. Finally, the NCPI’s status as a separate political entity gives the MPs organisational flexibility as they prepare for future political battles in West Bengal.
Remarkably, several senior NCPI figures appeared as surprised as everyone else.
Shantanu Dey initially expressed reservations about the merger.
โI was not informed about the development. Had I known, I would have opposed it,โ he said on Sunday.
However, he later changed his position.
โThe founding members of the party said that ours is a small party. So, if they want to join, it would be a good thing. We will work together within the NDA,โ he said.
The party’s newly launched social media pages welcomed the rebel MPs and claimed that, with twenty Lok Sabha members, it had become the largest political force from West Bengal in Parliament.
Party leaders say their future political focus will be on West Bengal, Assam and Tripura.
Sources in political circles suggest that many NCPI members have links to the Matua community and that some founders and supporters were previously associated with senior politician Mukul Roy.
