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Basunia Claims 17 Rebels Will Join BJP Before Durga Puja

By Drooid · Sep 15, 2026, 4:10 AM UTC · How we work

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Bloc Evades Defection

On 14 September 2026 MP Jagadish Basunia announced 17 of the 20 MPs who joined Nationalist Citizens Party would join the BJP during Durga Puja.
Observers say the bloc aims to evade anti-defection penalties by moving as a two-thirds group.
BJP Bengal chief Samik Bhattacharya rejected admitting any TMC or NCPI members, citing past atrocities.
TMC secretary Abhishek Banerjee asked Speaker Om Birla to disqualify rebels, noting seats now nine.

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Protests Sparked By Claim

MP Jagadish Basunia said 17 of 20 rebels who joined Nationalist Citizens Party of India would join the BJP before or after Durga Puja.
His claim sparked protests against Basunia and wife, and a TMC office near his home was set ablaze.
Rebel MPs Satabdi Roy and Abu Taher Khan denied decision to join the BJP.
BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya said will not admit anyone because they want to join.

History

Historical Context

The wave of floor-crossing that began with Gaya Lal’s three party switches in 1967 prompted the Y B Chavan committee and, after Indira Gandhi’s hesitation, Rajiv Gandhi’s government enacted the Anti-Defection Act on 30 January 1985, requiring a two-thirds majority for legal mergers. Yet the 1990 split of Chandra Shekhar and 61 MPs exposed loopholes, spurring continued attempts to exploit the law.

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Bloc Evades Defection

On 14 September 2026 MP Jagadish Basunia announced 17 of the 20 MPs who joined Nationalist Citizens Party would join the BJP during Durga Puja.
Observers say the bloc aims to evade anti-defection penalties by moving as a two-thirds group.
BJP Bengal chief Samik Bhattacharya rejected admitting any TMC or NCPI members, citing past atrocities.
TMC secretary Abhishek Banerjee asked Speaker Om Birla to disqualify rebels, noting seats now nine.

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