Questions have once again arisen regarding the unity within the newly formed Nationalist Congress Parliamentarians India (NCPI) a party born out of a faction split from the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Despite attending a breakfast meeting hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, three Muslim MPs from the NCPI have firmly distanced themselves from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), signaling potential internal rifts.

Murshidabad MP Abu Taher addressed the media after the high-profile breakfast meeting, clarifying that participating in the Prime Minister’s invitation does not translate to aligning with the NDA or the BJP. “If the NDA merges completely with the BJP, we cannot go with them. We will not join the BJP,” Taher stated explicitly. “We are in the NCPI because it was formed as a separate entity, and we intend to stay here. However, if any government decision hurts our religious sentiments or goes against Islam, we will strongly protest and refuse to support it.”
When questioned about why NCPI lawmakers attended the Prime Minister’s gathering if they were not part of the NDA, Taher explained that they attended strictly in their capacity as NCPI representatives to voice the party’s platform.

Conflicting Stances Within the Party

While Taher drew a hard line against the BJP and the NDA, other figures within the NCPI presented a different tone. Senior NCPI leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay skirted around the controversy, choosing instead to highlight the Prime Minister’s remarks on political stability.

Bandyopadhyay recalled the Prime Minister describing the NDA as an expanding family that needs to sustain its strength, noting that PM Modi also pointed out how stability has prevailed in India compared to nations like Britain, which has seen numerous prime ministerial changes over the same period.

BJP and Political Analyst Reactions

The BJP has chosen to distance itself from the internal friction within the NCPI. West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya remarked that the internal dynamics of the newly formed party are of no concern to the BJP. “This is not my domain. The NCPI was formed by 20 MPs after the TMC was dismantled. If internal disagreements arise, it is up to the NCPI to manage them, not the BJP,” Bhattacharya said. He further added, “This is not a government of Tughlaq or Babur; this is the government of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. People should understand this perspective and adjust their politics accordingly.”

Political analysts suggest that the NCPI’s Muslim MPs are currently “testing the waters.” Representing heavily Muslim-dominated constituencies, these lawmakers appear cautious about being perceived as too close to the BJP, keeping their political options open as ideological tensions simmer within the coalition.

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