We will be NDA allies: Satabdi Roy signals NDA tie-up as TMC rebellion gathers pace
The political realignment triggered by the Trinamool Congress rebellion appears to be moving towards a formal association with the NDA, with rebel MP Satabdi Roy
The political realignment triggered by the Trinamool Congress rebellion appears to be moving towards a formal association with the NDA, with rebel MP Satabdi Roy declaring that the dissident camp intends to become an ally of the BJP-led coalition. Returning to Kolkata after meetings in New Delhi, Roy said the rebel camp was still in its early stages but made it clear that the group's future political direction would be aligned with the NDA. Read Full Story "We will be NDA allies," Roy told reporters, offering the clearest indication yet of where the breakaway faction intends to position itself after splitting from the Trinamool Congress. The remarks come a day after 20 rebel TMC Lok Sabha MPs announced their merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), a little-known registered unrecognised political party, and sought separate recognition in Parliament. 'PEOPLE WANTED CHANGE' Roy linked the rebellion to the political mood in West Bengal and argued that voters had sought an alternative. "This is definitely a challenge.
People voted elsewhere because they wanted change," she said. While signalling a new political path, Roy also spoke about her long association with the Trinamool Congress and the circumstances that led to her decision. "When the Trinamool was in difficulty in 2009, I stood by the party. I have given 17 years. Complaints had piled up like a mountain," she said. She admitted that the decision to leave had been emotionally difficult. "This decision, taken after all these developments, has definitely affected everyone," Roy said. PRAISE FOR ABHISHEK, CRITICISM OF HIS COURSE In remarks likely to attract attention within Trinamool circles, Roy said she still believed Abhishek Banerjee had significant political potential. "I still believe Abhishek is a very intelligent and sensible young man. He could have achieved a lot, but for some reason he lost his way," she said. "He had the capability for politics." Her comments suggest that while the rebel camp has broken with the party leadership, some leaders continue to distinguish between Abhishek's political abilities and the direction in which they believe the party eventually moved.
WHY THE REBELS CHOSE NCPI The rebel MPs' decision to merge with the NCPI rather than immediately join the BJP has drawn widespread attention. Political observers believe the move was driven as much by legal considerations as by politics. Under parliamentary rules, the rebels faced procedural complications if they simply broke away from the Trinamool Congress and attempted to function as an independent bloc. By merging with an existing registered political party, they believe they have created a stronger legal basis for seeking separate recognition in Parliament. A senior rebel MP described the move as being driven by "practical considerations rather than ideology". "We wanted to move collectively and create a political space outside Mamata Banerjee's control without triggering unnecessary procedural hurdles. The NCPI route offered a workable parliamentary solution," the MP said. The rebel faction has already informed Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla of its merger and requested separate seating arrangements in the House. POLITICAL CRISIS DEEPENS The rebellion has emerged as one of the biggest challenges faced by the Trinamool Congress in recent years.
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