What Is NCPI, The Party That Is Home To 20 Rebel TMC MPs And Now NDA's Second-Largest Ally?

Published 15 June 2026 · politics

What Is NCPI, The Party That Is Home To 20 Rebel TMC MPs And Now NDA's Second-Largest Ally? Written By, Last Updated: June 15, 2026

What Is NCPI, The Party That Is Home To 20 Rebel TMC MPs And Now NDA's Second-Largest Ally? Written By, Last Updated: June 15, 2026, 09:37 IST The Nationalist Citizens Party of India was founded in 2020 by former Tripura minister Paban Kumar Das and originally conceived as a regional platform focused on tribal welfare Rapid Read Rebel TMC MPs meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at his residence. (ANI) Until last week, few outside Tripura and parts of West Bengal had heard of the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). Now, the si year-old party finds itself at the centre of one of the biggest political upheavals in recent years after 20 rebel Trinamool Congress MPs announced their merger with the outfit, instantly transforming it from a fringe regional formation into a significant force in Parliament. The move has not only deepened the crisis within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) but has also given the BJP-led NDA an unexpected new ally. A Small Party With Big Ambitions The Nationalist Citizens Party of India was founded in 2020 by former Tripura minister and tribal leader Paban Kumar Das. According to The Indian Express, the party was originally conceived as a regional platform focused on tribal welfare, nationalism and governance reforms. ALSO READ | ‘Once The MP-MLA Things Are Done…’: Ritabrata Banerjee Signals TMC Takeover, Eyes Local Bodies Despite being headquartered in Howrah, West Bengal, the party’s initial organisational base was largely concentrated in Tripura, where it sought to emerge as an alternative to both the BJP and the Left. The party is registered with the Election Commission but remains unrecognised as a state or national party. What Does NCPI Stand For? NCPI describes itself as a nationalist and development-oriented party that supports strong governance, welfare measures and national integration. According to party documents accessed by CNN-News18, the organisation advocates strong national security policies, welfare programmes for tribal and marginalised communities, economic development and infrastructure expansion, anti-corruption measures, and greater political representation for smaller communities.

The party has generally positioned itself as supportive of the NDA’s broader political agenda while maintaining a separate organisational identity. Why Did TMC Rebels Choose NCPI? This is where the suspense lies. ALSO READ | The Last Piece Of The Puzzle: Why TMC Rebels Need A Heavyweight On Their Side According to The Indian Express, the rebel MPs considered multiple options before settling on NCPI. Joining the BJP directly would have reinforced allegations from the TMC leadership that the rebellion was orchestrated by the saffron party. Creating an entirely new political outfit, meanwhile, would have involved a lengthy recognition process and potential legal hurdles. NCPI offered a ready-made solution. It was already a registered political party with an Election Commission identity, organisational structure and legal existence. By merging into an existing party rather than forming a new one, the rebels believe they have strengthened their case for recognition as a legitimate political group rather than defectors. Political observers quoted by The Indian Express described NCPI as a convenient institutional vehicle for the dissidents. TMC rebel MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay seemed to explain the rationale when he said: “We will merge with the Nationalist Citizens Party… It is a regional party. This is the system. When you leave with 2/3rd of the party, you cannot demand the name of that party on the first day itself… In July, we will make a demand to give us Trinamool since we have 2/3rd majority from Trinamool. Then the court will decide…" However, Senior TMC MP Sougata Roy ridiculed the rebels’ decision. “Once you betray the party on whose symbol you were elected, how will you face your constituents? This merger is ridiculous. Who knows NCPI? Can they go to their constituencies and tell people that they are now part of NCPI? This merger reflects the desperation of the traitors to please their BJP masters," Roy told PTI.