NDA invites NCPI, party of 20 rebel TMC MPs, to 'Mangal Milan' meet
The BJP-led Democratic Alliance (NDA) Parliamentary Party will hold its weekly 'Mangal Milan' meeting on Tuesday, with the newly formed Nationalist Citizens Party of India
The BJP-led Democratic Alliance (NDA) Parliamentary Party will hold its weekly 'Mangal Milan' meeting on Tuesday, with the newly formed Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) invited to attend the alliance meeting for the first time. The meeting, scheduled for 9.30 am at the GMC Balayogi Auditorium in the Parliament Library Building, comes amid a politically charged Monsoon Session dominated by debates over examination reforms and the Opposition's protests over the alleged police action against students. Read Full Story If the NCPI participates, it will mark its first appearance at an NDA Parliamentary Party meeting since 20 breakaway Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs announced their merger with the little-known party and extended support to the BJP-led alliance.
The NCPI, led in Parliament by veteran MP Sudeep Bandyopadhyay, held its first parliamentary party meeting on Sunday. The faction said its seating arrangements, division numbers and legislative blocks had been accepted within the House and reiterated its support for the NDA. SIGNIFICANCE OF JULY 28 MEETING Tuesday's meeting comes a day after the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh amid continuous sloganeering by Opposition members, forcing repeated disruptions. The Bill seeks to strengthen the legal framework against paper leaks and examination malpractice through seven major amendments to the 2024 law, including provisions for time-bound investigations and trials, Special Fast-Track Courts, Special Task Forces, Special Public Prosecutors, enhanced punishments, higher financial penalties and a streamlined appeal mechanism.
The NDA has lined up several young MPs to participate in the four-hour debate on the Bill, including two NCPI MPs – Sharmila Sarkar and Mitali Bagh. The meeting also assumes significance as the Opposition has continued to disrupt Parliament, demanding accountability from Home Minister Amit Shah over the alleged police action during the July 20 'Sansad Chalo' protest and questioning the effectiveness of the proposed legislation. At the previous NDA Parliamentary Party meeting on July 21, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government "stands with the students" and stressed that paper leaks were a matter of national concern that should not be politicised.
The NCPI had skipped that meeting due to pending procedural formalities. The invitation comes even as Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is yet to take a formal decision on recognising the merger of the rebel MPs with the NCPI. It also reflects the NDA's efforts to broaden its parliamentary support base as it prepares to push key legislation, including the proposed Delimitation Bill. Ends
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