3 weeks ago
Modi Breakfast With NCPI MPs as BJP Deepens Outreach
In India, the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, invited 20 members of Parliament to have breakfast with him at his home.
These members had recently left their old political party to join a new, small party called NCPI.
Breakfast with the PM is not just about food—it is a chance for the PM to talk with them about how Parliament works and how to help the people they represent.
Some other politicians who changed parties were also invited, including six former members of Shiv Sena and seven former members of the AAP.
A few of the NCPI members do not want to join the Prime Minister's political team, the NDA.
They said they must stand up for the people who voted for them, especially Muslim voters in their areas.
These members met the Home Minister, Amit Shah, to ask for help with voting lists and mosque loudspeakers.
Some people think the new members may not stay with the PM's team forever, and may just be used to gain more votes in Parliament.
The breakfasts are the talk of the political world, with everyone wondering what will happen next.
PM Narendra Modi invited 20 Trinamool Congress defectors, now in the little-known NCPI party, to a Friday breakfast tutorial at his official residence on parliamentary decorum, legislative responsibility and constituency connectivity.
At Wednesday's session, Modi met Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik, who quit Trinamool and were renominated to the Rajya Sabha by the BJP, along with the AAP's seven defectors led by Raghav Chadha and Harbhajan Singh.
Six defector MPs from Shiv Sena (UBT) were also invited to the Friday breakfast.
NCPI Muslim MPs Abu Taher Khan, Khalilur Rahman and Yusuf Pathan skipped NDA coordination meetings for a second consecutive week, said they would not join the NDA or BJP, and met Union home minister Amit Shah to urge action on Bengal electoral rolls and mosque loudspeakers.
Suvendu Adhikari purportedly assured NCPI MPs that Bengal's Lok Sabha seats would rise from 42 to 63 under delimitation to an 850-seat Lok Sabha, though a BJP insider said such assurances may not be honoured once crucial legislation is passed.
- Who
- PM Narendra Modi, who hosted the sessions, and MPs who left their parent parties, including 20 former Trinamool Congress MPs in the NCPI, six Shiv Sena (UBT) defectors and seven AAP defectors.
- What
- Informal breakfast tutorials at the PM's residence aimed at teaching defector MPs about parliamentary decorum, legislative responsibility and constituency connectivity, while the NDA seeks to weave the NCPI into its legislative architecture.
- Where
- The Prime Minister's official residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi.
- When
- A Friday morning session was scheduled for the NCPI and Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs; a similar session was held on the preceding Wednesday, though specific dates were not given.
- Why
- The BJP is deepening outreach to MPs who deserted their parent parties to secure floor strength for crucial legislation, even as the NCPI group's political future remains uncertain under the Tenth Schedule.
Critics and sceptics
NDA and BJP leadership
Long-term prospects of NCPI defectors
Critics and sceptics
Trinamool loyalist Saugata Roy says the BJP will ultimately sacrifice its loyal cadre to accommodate opportunistic newcomers when seat adjustments loom.
NDA and BJP leadership
BJP leadership, including Suvendu Adhikari, assures the NCPI MPs they will be accommodated, citing a projected rise in Bengal's Lok Sabha seats under delimitation.
NCPI Muslim MPs joining the NDA
Critics and sceptics
The trio of Abu Taher Khan, Khalilur Rahman and Yusuf Pathan says it will not be part of the NDA or BJP because they are duty-bound to the minority electorate.
NDA and BJP leadership
The Bengal BJP's highest leadership has urged Amit Shah to intervene so that the trio do not depart from the alliance.
Reliability of assurances to defectors
Critics and sceptics
A BJP insider says assurances are being given for the time being only to secure floor strength for crucial legislation, and need not be honoured later.
NDA and BJP leadership
Suvendu Adhikari purportedly told the NCPI MPs there would be no problem, since Bengal's seat count could rise from 42 to 63 if delimitation plans for an 850-seat Lok Sabha are executed.
Key facts
- Event
- Breakfast tutorials by PM Modi for defector MPs
- Invited NCPI MPs
- 20 former Trinamool Congress MPs
- Other Friday invitees
- Six Shiv Sena (UBT) defector MPs
- Wednesday attendees
- Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Sushmita Dev, Prakash Chik Baraik and seven AAP defectors
- Location
- 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi
- NCPI MPs refusing NDA
- Abu Taher Khan, Khalilur Rahman, Yusuf Pathan
- Bengal Lok Sabha seats
- 42 currently; projected 63 under delimitation to an 850-seat Lok Sabha
- Disqualification rule
- Tenth Schedule requires splinter groups to keep a two-thirds threshold to evade disqualification
Quotes
Saugata Roy
Member of Parliament from Dum Dum, loyalist to Mamata Banerjee
“"Will the BJP ultimately sacrifice its loyal cadre to accommodate opportunistic newcomers when seat adjustments loom on the horizon?"”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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