Rebel TMC leader and Cooch Behar MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia on Monday claimed that 17 of the 20 MPs of the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) will join the BJP either before or after Durga Puja in October.
Basunia said the 17 MPs had decided to join the BJP together, arguing that their move would not attract disqualification under the anti-defection law as they would constitute more than two-thirds of the NCPI's strength.
“We are 17 MPs going to the BJP together. Since more than two-thirds of the 20 members will be moving, the anti-defection law will not apply to us,” Basunia told reporters.
On June 14, 20 dissident TMC MPs had announced their merger with the little-known NCPI and extended support to the ruling NDA. At least 14 of the 20 MPs would be required to meet the two-thirds threshold for protection under the anti-defection law.
Basunia, however, said three of the MPs, Abu Taher Khan, Khalilur Rahaman and Yusuf Pathan, would not formally join the BJP because of the political and administrative dynamics in their constituencies. Instead, they would extend support to the NDA from outside, he claimed.
“They will support the NDA, and may be given important responsibilities or portfolios,” Basunia said.
His remarks came days after he and his wife, TMC MLA Sangeeta Roy, faced protests on returning to their ancestral home in Sitai in Cooch Behar. Locals and BJP workers demonstrated against the couple amid criticism over Basunia's political shift. A TMC office near his residence was also allegedly set on fire during the unrest.
Basunia has said he is no longer associated with the TMC and is aligned with the NDA.
(With inputs from PTI)
