Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has assured that the request from 20 erstwhile Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha members for recognition of their joining the National Citizens Party of India (NCPI) is under consideration by the office of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. In a letter to Sudip Bandopadhyay, a four-time Lok Sabha member and former leader of Trinamool’s Parliamentary party in the Lok Sabha, Rijiju stated that the request for recognition is being considered. Rijiju sent the letter to Bandopadhyay, assuring him that the request is under consideration.
The letter read, ‘Recently, you along with 19 other Members of Parliament have joined the National Citizens Party of India (NCPI) and have already requested the Hon’ble Speaker, Lok Sabha for recognition, which is under consideration.’ In the letter, Rijiju also invited Bandopadhyay to attend a forthcoming meeting of the ‘Floor Leaders of Political Parties’ in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to discuss important issues and legislative business likely to come up before the Houses in the ensuing Monsoon Session of Parliament. The meeting is scheduled to be held on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. in the Main Committee Room, Parliament House Annexe, New Delhi. Rijiju stated, ’I would seek your cooperation to ensure smooth functioning of both Houses of Parliament.
I shall be looking forward to your participation and request you along with Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, nominated Chief Whip of your party, to kindly make it convenient to attend the meeting.’ Earlier this month, the NCPI congratulated its Parliamentary party leaders after achieving one of the most stunning political realignments in modern Indian history, becoming a major force in the Lok Sabha overnight. The party declared Sudip Bandopadhyay as its Floor Leader, Satabdi Roy Deputy Leader, and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar Chief Whip in the Lower House. Soon after the switch, Bandopadhyay announced that they would now represent the ‘real Trinamool’ in Parliament, beginning with the Monsoon Session from July 20.
