Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for over ten hours on Monday regarding a 2022 education department recruitment case. Simultaneously, the party faces a major internal crisis as 20 Lok Sabha MPs informed Speaker Om Birla of their intent to merge with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), a move that could shift parliamentary arithmetic in favor of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
ED questioning of Abhishek Banerjee
Abhishek Banerjee arrived at the ED’s Salt Lake CGO Complex office at 11 am on Monday and remained until 9:30 pm, according to officials. The agency is investigating alleged irregularities in the recruitment of teachers and school staff, a probe originally ordered by the Calcutta High Court in 2022. An ED official stated that investigators focused on the “money trail,” specifically examining how funds were moved across accounts and entities to conceal their origin. The agency intends to reconcile bank records and communication data with statements provided by Banerjee during the examination.
Did You Know? The Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), which the rebel MPs aim to join, is a registered but unrecognised political party that last contested elections in 2023. Its candidates in that Tripura election finished behind the NOTA (None of the Above) option or secured only minimal votes.
The potential merger and impact on NDA numbers
A group of 20 TMC Lok Sabha MPs submitted a letter to Speaker Om Birla declaring their merger with the NCPI. Rebel MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar stated the group intends to align with the NDA under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. If the Speaker verifies the signatures and recognizes the merger, the NDA’s strength in the Lok Sabha would increase from 294 to 314 seats. Despite this potential gain, the alliance would remain 46 seats short of a two-thirds majority in the Lower House.
Legal challenges to the breakaway
Abhishek Banerjee has formally challenged the validity of the merger. In a letter to Speaker Om Birla, he argued that a “split” within a political party is no longer recognized under the Tenth Schedule, citing the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Maharashtra political crisis case. Banerjee maintained that the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) is a single, indivisible entity and that individual members cannot unilaterally form a parallel faction. Independent MP Kapil Sibal has also publicly called for the disqualification of the 20 rebel MPs, labeling the merger attempt a “joke” regarding the anti-defection law.
Expert Insight: The legal conflict centers on the interpretation of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. While the rebels are attempting to leverage the merger provision to avoid disqualification, the TMC leadership is relying on the precedent that the party itself—not a faction—must initiate a merger. The Speaker’s verification process will be the decisive factor in determining whether this group is recognized as a legitimate parliamentary bloc or faces disqualification for anti-party activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the rebel MPs choose the NCPI for their merger?
According to a BJP MP involved in discussions, the choice was strategic. It was intended to help the rebels retain their political connection to West Bengal while providing the Northeast with better representation in the Lok Sabha. Sources told PTI that the NCPI route was selected as a “workable parliamentary solution” to move collectively while attempting to avoid procedural hurdles under the anti-defection law.
What is the status of the NCPI?
The NCPI is a little-known, registered unrecognised political party formed in 2022. It currently holds no elected seats in any legislature across India. Its registered address is in Howrah, West Bengal, and its founder president, Sheuli Kundu, stated she has resigned from the post and is unaware of the party’s current leadership.
How has the TMC leadership responded to the rebellion?
TMC loyalists, including Saugata Roy and Kunal Ghosh, have criticized the move, calling the rebels “traitors” and questioning the legitimacy of joining an unrecognized party. Abhishek Banerjee has formally written to the Speaker to block the recognition of the group, asserting that the party remains a single, indivisible entity.
How will the Speaker’s verification of these 20 signatures reshape the political landscape in the Lok Sabha?
