Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and 20 former TMC MPs join the NDA.
Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency: A major development in Bengal politics ahead of the monsoon session.
Will contribute to nation-building and smooth parliamentary proceedings. Senior MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, a close confidante of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who later left the Trinamool Congress and joined the NCPI last month, announced on Sunday that she and 20 other MPs who had left the Trinamool Congress would join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Lok Sabha. This announcement is being considered a major development in Bengal politics ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament.
20 TMC MPs to support the NDA
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said that the 20 MPs who left the Trinamool Congress are now working under the NCPI parliamentary party and have decided to work with the NDA under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Kakoli Ghosh stated that her group will support the government in nation-building efforts. Kakoli said, "We, 20 former Trinamool Congress MPs, are joining the NDA alliance. We have also made it clear in the all-party meeting that we will work closely with the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Eight of our 20 MPs are women, and we will support the government on any issues it brings to the House." Kakoli Ghosh stated that the NCPI parliamentary party meeting discussed the monsoon session strategy in detail. It was decided to participate in constructive debates on five or six important bills coming to Parliament. She stated that debate is essential in a democracy, but disrupting Parliament's time is not in the interest of the country and the people. Kakoli stated that her group will seriously express its views on all important issues, including taxation, birth and death registration, but will also ensure that Parliamentary proceedings run smoothly.
It is noteworthy that following the Trinamool Congress's defeat at the hands of the BJP in the Bengal Assembly elections, there has been a continuous split within the party. Several MPs, MLAs, and senior leaders have left the Trinamool Congress.
In this vein, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and other leaders formed a separate parliamentary group and joined the NCPI. Meanwhile, several MLAs and leaders within the party, including Ritabrata Banerjee, have openly challenged the party leadership.