17 TMC Rebel MPs May Join BJP Before Durga Puja

Rebel TMC leader Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia claimed on Monday that 17 of the 20 Lok Sabha members aligned with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India will join the BJP before or after Durga Puja.

Basunia stated that 17 MPs have finalised plans to join the BJP together, which would be sufficient to keep them outside the purview of the anti-defection law.

The BJP, however, sought to distance itself from the claim, with its West Bengal unit chief Samik Bhattacharya saying the party would not take in anyone merely because they want to join it.

Of the TMC's 27 Lok Sabha MPs, 20 have joined the little-known Nationalist Citizens Party of India and extended their support to the saffron party just after TMC's defeat in the assembly polls in May this year.

The TMC leadership, headed by Mamata Banerjee, has submitted an application to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and moved the apex court as well, seeking their disqualification as MPs.

Fellow rebel MP Satabdi Roy said Basunia had made the remarks in his personal capacity, and no such decision has been taken by the group so far.

Another rebel MP, Abu Taher Khan, also rejected Basunia's claim that he, Jangipur MP Khalilur Rahaman and Baharampur MP Yusuf Pathan would support the BJP-led NDA while staying outside the BJP.

The BJP, meanwhile, maintained that a person expressing a desire to join the party did not mean they would be accepted.

The development comes as the TMC and BJP continue to engage in a bitter battle for political supremacy in West Bengal.

The move, if it happens, would be a significant blow to the TMC and a major gain for the BJP in the state.

It remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming days, especially with the Durga Puja festivities approaching.

The anti-defection law, which prohibits MPs from switching parties, would not apply if two-thirds of the MPs defect together.

In this case, Basunia claimed that 17 MPs would be joining the BJP, which would be more than the required two-thirds.

However, the BJP's reluctance to confirm the claim has added to the uncertainty surrounding the situation.

As the political drama continues to unfold, it is clear that the battle for West Bengal will only intensify in the coming days.

The TMC, led by Mamata Banerjee, will have to navigate this challenging situation carefully to maintain its grip on the state.

The BJP, on the other hand, will be looking to capitalize on the situation and make significant gains in the state.

Only time will tell how the situation will play out, but one thing is certain - the battle for West Bengal will be a long and intense one.