New Delhi, Aug. 5: Fresh signs of unease within the newly formed NCPI parliamentary group emerged on Tuesday after three of its Lok Sabha members stayed away from the National Democratic Alliance’s weekly parliamentary meeting, signalling continuing uncertainty over the group’s relationship with the BJP-led coalition.
The absent MPs Khalilur Rahaman (Jangipur), Abu Taher Khan (Murshidabad) and Yusuf Pathan (Baharampur) also skipped the NDA’s first “Mangal Milan” meeting held on June 28. Their absence has intensified speculation about differing views within the 20-member group that broke away from the Trinamool Congress.
Speaking to reporters in the Parliament complex, Abu Taher Khan clarified that the three leaders were not aligned with the NDA and had deliberately avoided the coalition meeting.
“We are not with the NDA, nor are we joining the BJP,” Khan said, adding that while they would attend meetings convened by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on constituency development, they would oppose any move they believed was against the interests of Muslims.
According to political sources, the MPs represent constituencies with significant Muslim populations and have faced questions from voters regarding their perceived closeness to the BJP. The concerns are believed to have influenced their decision to remain absent from the NDA gathering.
The development is politically significant as the Lok Sabha Speaker is yet to decide on granting formal recognition to the 20 member NCPI bloc. Under the anti defection law, the group would require support from at least two-thirds of the original 28 Trinamool Congress MPs in the Lok Sabha to qualify for protection.
Despite the absence of the three lawmakers, NCPI floor leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay attended the NDA parliamentary meeting for the first time. Dismissing suggestions of internal discord, he maintained that the party remained united and described the interaction as a positive experience.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the meeting, which was attended by senior Union ministers and leaders of NDA allies. BJP president Nitin Nabin was seated alongside the Prime Minister during the session.
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya delivered presentations highlighting the government’s achievements in sports, employment generation and social welfare programmes. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said parliamentarians were informed about India’s improved performance in international sporting events following the sports policy introduced in 2014.
Tiwari also claimed that employment opportunities had expanded significantly during the current government’s tenure, with presentations comparing job creation figures between the UPA and NDA administrations. Members were also briefed on various social security initiatives implemented by the Centre.
Senior BJP leader P. P. Chaudhary described the weekly parliamentary interaction as a constructive platform for coordination among alliance partners.
The meeting was attended by prominent NDA leaders, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and representatives from JD(U), JD(S), NCP, Shiv Sena and other alliance constituents.