Kolkata/New Delhi15 minutes ago
Three rebel Trinamool Congress MPs from West Bengal, Abu Taher Khan, Khalilur Rahman and Yusuf Pathan, have denied speculation that they are joining the BJP or becoming part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
The MPs said they do not agree with the BJP’s politics but would cooperate with the Centre and the state government on issues concerning the people of their constituencies.
The three are among 20 rebel TMC MPs who reportedly broke away from Mamata Banerjee’s party a few weeks after the West Bengal Assembly elections and joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI).
However, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has not formally recognised them as NCPI MPs. Abu Taher and Khalilur Rahman said the Speaker continues to address them as TMC MPs in Parliament, with TMC listed alongside their names.
Speculation grew after meeting with PM Modi
Speculation about the three MPs’ proximity to the BJP intensified after they attended a breakfast meeting hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for NDA MPs on July 7.
A day earlier, on July 6, the three MPs had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and submitted a memorandum raising concerns over restrictions on loudspeakers at mosques and the alleged deletion of voters’ names in West Bengal during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
Khalilur Rahman: We are not joining BJP
On July 8, Abu Taher Khan and Khalilur Rahman met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the state secretariat. When asked about joining the BJP, Khalilur Rahman categorically denied the possibility.
He said the MPs would remain with NCPI, while adding that their future political course would be decided with time.
Abu Taher also ruled out joining the BJP or becoming part of the NDA. He said greater attention should be given to issues affecting the Muslim community, particularly people from backward and economically weaker sections.
NCPI denies differences among rebel MPs
Amid speculation of differences within the rebel TMC MPs’ group, NCPI MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar denied any major rift in the party.
She said Prime Minister Modi had held a meeting lasting more than two hours with NCPI MPs to discuss issues related to West Bengal’s development. Abu Taher was also present at the meeting, she said.
Meanwhile, 17 NCPI MPs attended the NDA MPs’ ‘Mangal Milan’ meeting on July 4. Abu Taher Khan, Khalilur Rahman and Yusuf Pathan were not present at the gathering.
TMC calls NCPI BJP’s ‘B-team’
The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC has accused the three MPs of misleading the public.
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee claimed that the MPs had informed the Lok Sabha Speaker about their association with NCPI and alleged that NCPI had already been declared an NDA ally.
TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh went further, describing NCPI as the BJP’s “B-team” and questioning the political position of the rebel MPs.
