CM Meets NCPI MPs in Delhi; Party Unity Remains in Focus as Three Members Skip NDA Meeting

PTI, Aug 4, 2026, New Delhi: Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari met former NCPI MPs at Banga Bhawan in Delhi on Tuesday. BJP leader Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, who recently switched from the Trinamool Congress, was also present at the meeting.

Speaking to mediapersons after the meeting, Roy described the Chief Minister's visit as a "courtesy call". "It was a courtesy call; I only came to see him," the MP said.

The meeting between the Chief Minister and the NCPI members, who have switched from TMC after the party's debacle in the West Bengal Assembly elections, took place in the context of major political changes in the state, after reports that 20 TMC Lok Sabha MPs had left the party to merge with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) and pledged support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Recent developments have also raised questions about the unity of the NCPI, after three of its leaders—Abu Taher Khan, Khalilur Rahman, and Yusuf Pathan—did not attend the NDA meeting on Tuesday.

It deserves mention here that the three members were also absent during the NDA's 'Mangal Milan' meeting last Tuesday.

The NCPI has denied any rift, while TMC leaders in Bengal have asserted that the three MPs do not wish to join the BJP-led NDA.

TMC's Beleghata MLA Kunal Ghosh on Tuesday hinted at their possible return to the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC camp.

Party veteran MP Saugata Roy had previously stated that the three NCPI leaders did not want to align with the BJP and that discussions were ongoing.

"I was told that they (NCPI leaders Abu Taher Khan, Khalilur Rahman, and Yusuf Pathan) do not wish to join the NDA; they do not want to align with the BJP, which is why they boycotted it... Discussions are underway; talks are happening. Nothing has been finalised yet," Roy said.

However, NCPI MP Rachana Banerjee told newspersons after the meeting with CM Adhikari that they are very much united and their strength may increase in the coming days.