Rebel TMC MPs have talked about joining NCPI. After all, what is NCPI and when was it established? What is the full name of NCPI? In which category has NCPI been registered by the Election Commission? Who is the President of NCPI? Who is NCPI Treasurer Shewali Kundu?
What is NCPI: A political party, whose name was known to very few people till some time ago and which did not make any significant impact even in the 2023 Tripura Assembly elections, has now become a topic of discussion in national politics. The reason for this is the decision of 20 rebel leaders of Trinamool Congress (TMC) to join the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). After this development, NCPI has suddenly come into political limelight. This small party of Bengal is now being seen as an important player in the ongoing political crisis within the Trinamool Congress. Along with this, people’s interest has also increased regarding the party’s establishment, leadership, organization and political journey.
When was NCPI formed and how did it get recognition?
NCPI was registered with the Election Commission as an “Unrecognized Political Party” (RUPP) on 20 January 2023. This registration took place just a few weeks before the Tripura Assembly elections. Interestingly, the party was registered in West Bengal, but decided to make its political debut from Tripura. According to Election Commission records, the party had received total donations of Rs 1.13 lakh.
Party leadership and organizational structure
In the official documents of the party, Shewali Kundu has been mentioned as the treasurer. Shewali Kundu is also a director in two other organizations registered at the same address. These include Biswabazar Private Limited, where he has been a director since November 2021. Apart from this, she is also the director of a social organization named West Bengal Unorganized Women Workers Association since October 2020. The registered address of these three institutions is in Banipur area of Howrah district of West Bengal.
Who is the President of NCPI?
NCPI’s president is Uttamiya Kundu, who is said to be Shevli Kundu’s husband. Uttamiya Kundu’s picture was also seen with Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari in a post shared on social media.
Focus was on tribal areas in Tripura elections
According to NCPI leader Shantanu Dey, the party had entered Tripura politics to represent the deprived tribal communities living in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) area. With this objective in mind, the party had fielded its candidates on seven assembly seats. However, the nomination papers of four of these candidates were rejected. After this, only two candidates could remain in the election field on the party’s election symbol.
How was the performance in Tripura Assembly elections?
The election results were disappointing for NCPI. The party candidate on Chavmanu seat got 536 votes, while the candidate on Kailashahar seat got only 286 votes. In this way the party received a total of 822 votes on its election symbol. The third candidate, Krishna Kumar Debbarma, contested as an independent candidate from Ambassa seat and got 376 votes. Even if they are considered NCPI-backed candidates, the candidates affiliated to the party got only 1,198 votes in total. No candidate could reach the race for victory.
Candidates lost contact with the party after the elections
Many candidates contesting elections on NCPI tickets in Tripura say that the party became almost inactive after the elections were over. Jahangir Ali, who contested from Kailashahar seat, said that during the elections, Shewali Kundu, who had come from Kolkata, had contacted him and offered him to become a candidate. But after the elections were over, the party leaders stopped working and contact with them was also lost. Similarly, former candidate Barjeda Tripura said she had met party founder Shantanu Dey through a local contact and then contested the election on the party ticket. According to him, no money was asked from him and the election campaign was also very limited. After the elections, he completely lost contact with the party leadership.
Even the expansion plan could not be done in West Bengal
Shantanu Dey said that the party had initially planned to participate in the 2023 West Bengal Panchayat elections, but this plan could not be completed. According to media reports, after the Tripura elections, differences had emerged within the party regarding economic matters. Due to these controversies the activities of the organization were affected to a great extent. According to Dey, he later also suggested the party leadership to start preparations for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. However, this plan could not proceed further due to lack of resources.
NCPI’s political status changed due to merger of rebel TMC leaders
Despite limited resources and a very small political base, NCPI is now in the news at the national level. The biggest reason for this is the joining of 20 rebel leaders of Trinamool Congress into the party. After the announcement of separation from Trinamool Congress, rebel MPs met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and demanded arrangement for separate sitting in Parliament. After the meeting, rebel MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said that his group has submitted a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker for recognition as a separate parliamentary group.
TMC leaders also confirmed merger with NCPI
After this entire incident, senior Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay also confirmed that the group of rebel MPs has joined NCPI. He described NCPI as a regional political party. This merger of rebel TMC leaders has suddenly brought NCPI to the center of national politics. The party which was almost politically unknown till some time ago, has now become a major topic of discussion in Parliament and the politics of West Bengal.