Push For Parliamentary Recognition? Sudip Bandyopadhyay-PM Modi Meeting Fuels Buzz Over NCPI's NDA Entry

Published 18 July 2026 · politics

Push For Parliamentary Recognition? Sudip Bandyopadhyay-PM Modi Meeting Fuels Buzz Over NCPI's NDA Entry Published By, Last Updated: July 18, 2026, 19:44 IST Bandyopadhyay had

Push For Parliamentary Recognition? Sudip Bandyopadhyay-PM Modi Meeting Fuels Buzz Over NCPI's NDA Entry Published By, Last Updated: July 18, 2026, 19:44 IST Bandyopadhyay had recently quit the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and joined the NCPI along with 19 other parliamentarians. Lok Sabha MP and NCPI leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay met PM Modi on Saturday. Ahead of the all-party meeting convened before the Monsoon session of Parliament, Lok Sabha MP and Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence on Saturday. The meeting comes amid the process of according parliamentary recognition to the NCPI as a constituent of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Democratic Alliance (NDA). According to sources, the party has been asked to submit a resolution formally extending support to the NDA and the PM Modi-led government. Bandyopadhyay Likely To Be Floor Leader In Lok Sabha Bandyopadhyay, who recently quit the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and joined the NCPI along with 19 other parliamentarians, is likely to serve as the floor leader of the party in the Lok Sabha.

Meanwhile, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar is expected to be appointed the chief whip, while Satabdi Roy is likely to become the deputy leader. All Party Meeting On Sunday The NCPI is also expected to be invited to the all-party meeting scheduled for July 19 ahead of the Monsoon session, which begins on July 20. On July 13, Bandyopadhyay and Ghosh Dastidar met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and discussed seating arrangements for the NCPI’s 20 MPs in the Lower House, PTI reported, citing sources. The leaders also reportedly raised the issue of allotting office space for the party in the new Parliament building. The MPs who switched allegiance to the NCPI have informed the Speaker’s Office about the party’s leadership structure, designating Bandyopadhyay as floor leader, Roy as deputy leader and Ghosh Dastidar as chief whip. TMC Crisis The developments come at a politically sensitive time, with the TMC having filed petitions seeking the disqualification of the 20 MPs who rebelled against the party leadership and joined the NCPI.

Bandyopadhyay had also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently as the party moves to secure formal parliamentary recognition within the NDA fold. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Key Questions Answered What does NCPI's entry mean for the NDA's strength? The Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) has become a significant ally for the BJP-led NDA, particularly after 20 Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs joined it. This merger has positioned the NCPI as the second-largest constituent in the NDA in the Lok Sabha, after the BJP itself. Will the 20 rebel MPs face disqualification from TMC? The disqualification of 20 rebel TMC MPs is pending a decision by the Lok Sabha Speaker. The MPs have merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), a move they believe may help them avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law. How might this shift impact upcoming parliamentary sessions? The Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) has been invited to an all-party meeting on July 19, ahead of the Monsoon session beginning July 20.