The Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) may be facing a new political challenge after a report claimed that three of its MPs — Yusuf Pathan, Abu Taher Khan and Khalilur Rahman — are looking into returning to the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
According to The Times of India, Abu Taher Khan and Khalilur Rahman contacted senior TMC MP Saugata Roy and expressed interest in returning to their former party. Yusuf Pathan was also in talks on a possible return, but the exact status of those talks was not yet clear.
The development has reignited speculation about the political future of the NCPI bloc, which was formed after a group of rebel TMC MPs split from the party and joined the relatively small political outfit.
The reported outreach followed when all three of the MPs failed to attend an NDA parliamentary meeting on Tuesday, and raised questions about their political orientation and commitment to the new NCPI grouping. Their absence is a potentially significant signal, as the NCPI bloc had already indicated support for the NDA.
But no formal announcement has yet been made about the three MPs leaving the NCPI or rejoining the TMC. This report is based on political sources, and the discussions might still be at an exploratory stage.
The return of the MPs would be a great development in the politics of West Bengal. Yusuf Pathan, Abu Taher Khan and Khalilur Rahman were among the TMC parliamentarians who joined the rebel camp during the party’s major internal political crisis. The group later joined the NCPI and formed a new parliamentary bloc, changing the political scenario in the Lok Sabha constituency of TMC.
The NCPI’s emergence had attracted national attention because the bloc comprised a large number of former TMC MPs and was expected to become one of the more prominent partners associated with the NDA in Parliament. The group had also sought separate recognition and parliamentary arrangements after it broke from the TMC.
So a three-MP departure could bring into question the stability and unity of the NCPI group. It also raises questions of whether others from the rebel camp might review their political positions.
Saugata Roy’s alleged involvement is also politically significant. The veteran TMC leader was recently appointed the party’s deputy leader in the Lok Sabha following changes in the party’s parliamentary structure after several MPs joined the rebel camp.
The TMC had vehemently opposed the political recognition and parliamentary participation of the rebel MPs, as the talks on their merger and disqualification were ongoing. The party had argued that the rebel group could not be considered as a separate and recognised parliamentary bloc.
If Abu Taher Khan and Khalilur Rahman are formally returned to the TMC, it could provide the party with a political boost after the major split of its MPs. A return of Yusuf Pathan will be particularly important as he had a national profile as a former Indian cricketer and parliamentarian.
At the same time, the legal and parliamentary implications of any political shift would depend on the formal process of the parliament and status of the existing NCPI arrangement. Questions may also arise about party membership, parliamentary affiliation and any pending proceedings connected to the earlier split.
For now, the report notes that the situation remains fluid. The alleged contact with Saugata Roy and the reported discussions should not be interpreted as evidence of the three MPs leaving the NCPI.
The next big step will be whether the MPs, the NCPI, or the TMC issue an official statement. But until now, the idea of a return is political speculation based on the reported discussions.
