# 17 NCPI MPs to join BJP before Durga Puja, claims rebel MP 2026-09-14T12:25:59+00:00 | Politics | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 8 independent outlets Rebel Trinamool Congress MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia on Monday claimed that 17 of the 20 Lok Sabha MPs aligned with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) will join the BJP before or after Durga Puja in October. Basunia said the move, involving more than two-thirds of the group, would shield them from the anti-defection law. Fellow rebel MPs immediately disputed the claim. Satabdi Roy said Basunia spoke in his personal capacity, while Abu Taher Khan, one of three MPs Basunia said would support the NDA from outside, stated: 'We will not go to the BJP. We will not go to the NDA.' The West Bengal BJP also distanced itself. State president Samik Bhattacharya said the party would not induct anyone merely because they wanted to join, and asked if Basunia was referring to 'the BJP on Mars'. The 20 MPs left the TMC in June after the party's defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections, merging with the little-known NCPI. The TMC has petitioned the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Supreme Court for their disqualification. The MPs have until September 22 to reply to disqualification notices. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Basunia's claim is reported as a straight statement by several outlets, but the dominant framing across sources is the denial from fellow rebels and the BJP. The Hindu and Mathrubhumi lead with the dispute, giving equal weight to Basunia's assertion and the rejections. ABP Live and Times of India foreground Basunia's version, while NDTV and Hindustan Times lead with the BJP denial. The near-universal focus on the rebuttals suggests the claim has little backing within the group. The key date to watch is September 22, when the MPs' replies to disqualification notices are due. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (sensationalist) Leads with Basunia's dramatic claim, downplays denials - hindustantimes.com (neutral report) Balances claim with denials from rebels and BJP - news.abplive.com (sensationalist) Headline calls it a 'shocking claim', frames drama - english.mathrubhumi.com (neutral report) Leads with claim and immediate rejection, balanced - ndtv.com (neutral report) Very brief, leads with BJP denial - thehindu.com (neutral report) Detailed, gives space to all sides evenly - indiatvnews.com (neutral report) Short, reports claim and BJP denial without slant - deccanherald.com (neutral report) Very brief, just states the claim Tags: Abu Taher Khan, BJP, Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, NCPI, Trinamool Congress, West Bengal Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/rebel-mp-claims-17-ncpi-mps-will-join-bjp-before-durga-puja/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/rebel-mp-claims-17-ncpi-mps-will-join-bjp-before-durga-puja/#story-in-brief