TMC rebels divided? 3 NCPI MPs skip NDA meet amid alliance uncertainty
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers and leaders of NDA allies attended the ruling coalition's weekly meeting of parliamentarians on Tuesday, but the absence of
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers and leaders of NDA allies attended the ruling coalition's weekly meeting of parliamentarians on Tuesday, but the absence of three NCPI MPs drew attention amid signs of differences within the 20-member group of TMC rebels over its association with the alliance. The development is significant as the recognition of the 20-member NCPI group in the Lok Sabha is still pending before Speaker Om Birla. The breakaway group can seek protection under the anti-defection law only if it accounts for at least two-thirds of the TMC's original strength of 28 Lok Sabha MPs. Read Full Story Khalilur Rahaman, Abu Taher Khan and Yusuf Pathan, who represent West Bengal's Jangipur, Murshidabad and Baharampur Lok Sabha seats, also stayed away from the first NDA parliamentary party "Mangal Milan" meeting attended by NCPI MPs on June 28. Speaking to reporters on the Parliament premises, Khan said, "We are not with the NDA, and neither are we going to the BJP, rest assured.
There was an NDA meeting today also, and the three of us did not go. But we will attend the meeting called by the chief minister (Suvendu Adhikari) because it is about developmental works in my seat. We will not support any step that is against Muslims as well." Suvendu Adhikari also visited Parliament House during the day. Sources said the three MPs, who represent Muslim-majority constituencies, chose to skip the NDA meeting after a section of their voters questioned their perceived association with the BJP. NCPI floor leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay attended the NDA parliamentary party meeting for the first time on Tuesday after missing the June 28 meeting. "I am one of the senior-most parliamentarians in the country. All are united in NCPI. It is a good experience," he said, dismissing suggestions of a rift among the dissident MPs. At the meeting in the Parliament House complex, BJP president Nitin Nabin was seen sitting next to Modi, a day after the party lost the Bankipur assembly bypoll in Bihar to poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor.
The bypoll in Bankipur, considered a BJP bastion, was held after Nabin vacated the seat following his election to the Rajya Sabha after taking charge as BJP president. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya gave a detailed presentation on sports and said the Modi government adopted a sports policy in 2014 that led to India winning several medals, including gold, in international events such as the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. He said a detailed presentation was also made on employment-generating avenues and parliamentarians were told that job opportunities for the youth had increased steadily. "We were told at the Mangal Milan that between 2004 and 2014, when UPA was in power, only 2.89 crore youth got jobs while between 2014 and 2026, a total of 17.1 crore youth got employment," Tiwari said. He added that a presentation was also made on various social security schemes of the government.
The BriefWire