'NCPI recognised by EC': Sudip Bandyopadhyay hits back after opposition's walkout over TMC rebels' presence

‘NCPI is recognised by EC’: Sudip Bandyopadhyay hits back after opposition’s walkout over TMC rebels’ presence

NEW DELHI: Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay on Sunday defended his party’s participation in the all-party meeting ahead of the Monsoon Session, saying the NCPI is recognised by the Election Commission and dismissing the oppposition’s protest over the presence of rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs.His remarks came after several opposition parties staged a symbolic walkout from the all-party meeting to protest the invitation extended to Bandyopadhyay and fellow NCPI leader Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar. The opposition later rejoined the meeting, saying the walkout was meant to register its protest.Speaking to reporters, Bandyopadhyay criticised the opposition’s decision to walk out.”I have never seen a walkout taking place during an all-party leaders’ meeting. The NCPI is recognised by the Election Commission. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar is going to submit all documents to the Lok Sabha Speaker,” he said.The former TMC leader also claimed that his erstwhile party had been reduced in strength after 20 of its Lok Sabha members joined the NCPI.”I also demanded (at the all-party meeting) that a small party should not be given seats in the first row. Just eight (MPs) are left in the party (TMC) after its 20 out of 28 moved out,” Bandyopadhyay told reporters.Responding to the opposition’s objections over the NCPI’s participation in the meeting, he said the matter would become clear once Parliament convenes.”Whatever they are telling, let them say. Whatever the Lok Sabha Speaker has to say, only tomorrow the Parliament will open and you will find whose seat is where,” he said.On the TMC’s demand seeking the disqualification of the 20 rebel MPs, Bandyopadhyay said the decision rests entirely with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.”If the Speaker thinks that it is fit for disqualification, he will disqualify. And if he thinks that from tomorrow we should sit as a separate bloc in the first row, we’ll find tomorrow. Wait for 24 hours,” he said.He added that Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar would submit all the required documents to the Lok Sabha Speaker on Sunday.Dastidar welcomed the government’s decision to invite the NCPI to the all-party meeting.”We express our gratitude for being invited to the all-party meeting. It is a sign of respect toward our newly formed coalition of 20 MPs,” she said.The all-party meeting convened by the government ahead of the Monsoon Session witnessed a symbolic walkout by opposition parties after Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla approved separate seating for the 20 rebel TMC MPs who have formed the NCPI.TMC MP Mahua Moitra questioned the government’s decision to invite the rebel MPs, arguing that the Lok Sabha Speaker had not yet approved their merger and that disqualification petitions against them were still pending.Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju defended the invitation, saying, “The NCPI requested recognition from the Lok Sabha Speaker; how can you ignore them? It is the government’s duty to invite everyone.”The NCPI held its parliamentary party meeting at Samvidhan Sadan on Sunday ahead of the Monsoon Session, which begins on Monday. While Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has approved separate seating for the 20 rebel TMC MPs.